California Governor Gavin Newsom, along with local congressional representatives, state officials and supporters, speaks as he announces the redrawing of California's congressional maps, calling on voters to approve a ballot measure, in response to a similar move in Texas being supported by U.S. President Donald Trump, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., August 14, 2025. (Reuters File)
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Dana Williamson, who served as Gov. Gavin Newsom’s chief of staff from 2022 to 2024, has been indicted on federal public corruption charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, Politico reported Wednesday.
Williamson, who also served as Cabinet secretary under former Gov. Jerry Brown, is accused of participating in a scheme that allegedly misused public funds and government resources, according to federal prosecutors.
A hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the U.S. District Court in Sacramento.
“Today’s charges are the result of three years of relentless investigative work, in partnership with IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel.
The indictment, first reported by the Sacramento Bee, alleges that Williamson, a longtime Democratic strategist, worked with Greg Campbell, a prominent Sacramento lobbyist, and Sean McCluskie, the former chief of staff to former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and as two other unnamed co-conspirators to steal $225,000 from an unnamed former official’s dormant campaign account for McCluskie’s personal use, CalMatters reported.
Williamson Also Accused of Tax Evasion
Williamson is also accused of falsely claiming more than $1.7 million in fraudulent business expenses on her taxes, for a $15,000 Chanel bag, a chartered jet and a nearly $170,000 birthday trip to Mexico.
Read more at Politico and CalMatters.
