Copyright Newsweek
Federal authorities on Wednesday charged Dana Williamson, former chief of staff to California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, in a sweeping public corruption case that includes 23 counts of bank and wire fraud, according to a federal indictment. Williamson and four others, including longtime Democratic operatives Greg Campbell and Sean McCluskie, are accused of conspiring to divert about $225,000 from a dormant campaign account tied to former Democratic U.S. Rep. Xavier Becerra of California. Prosecutors allege Williamson also filed false tax returns, claiming nearly $1 million in personal spending as business expenses and creating fake contracts to obtain pandemic relief loans. Williamson, who left the governor’s office in December 2024, is expected to make her first court appearance Wednesday in Sacramento federal court. This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
