On Wednesday, former chief of staff to California Governor Gavin Newsom, Dana Williamson, found herself facing serious legal trouble. She was apprehended and charged by the Justice Department with multiple counts of fraud. The charges arise from allegations of orchestrating a scheme to divert $225,000 to a friend.
The 53-year-old Williamson faces a 23-count federal indictment. The charges include conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, defrauding the government, obstructing justice, filing false tax returns, and providing false statements to authorities.
According to the allegations, Williamson was involved in a plan to redirect funds from an inactive political campaign into someone else’s account for personal gain.
Williamson, who was a key figure in Governor Newsom’s administration, was seen speaking in 2015 at an Assembly Health Committee meeting. The Justice Department made the announcement of her charges on Wednesday. (Lea Suzuki/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
“This marks a significant development in a political corruption investigation that has been ongoing for over three years,” commented U.S. Attorney Eric Grant. “Our office, alongside our law enforcement partners, remains committed to shielding Californians from political corruption,” he emphasized in a statement.
The investigation also identified Sean McCluskie as a co-conspirator who allegedly received the funds. At the time, McCluskie served as chief of staff to an individual referred to as “Public Official 1.” He is known to have been the former chief of staff for Xavier Becerra, the former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary.
Becerra previously served as California attorney general before he was appointed to the health secretary position by former President Joe Biden.
Beginning in April 2022, Williamson began helping McCluskie by using her political consulting company to bill Becerra’s campaign for services. The funds were sent to McCluskie’s wife for work done for Williamson, which was never performed as part of a “no-show job,” federal prosecutors said.
Williamson prepared to join Newsom’s office in late 2022. As a result, she arranged for an unnamed former public official to take over her role in the scheme, authorities said.
Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill Nov. 20, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
Williamson was Newsom’s chief of staff until late 2024.
“Ms. Williamson no longer serves in this administration,” a Newsom spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “While we are still learning details of the allegations, the governor expects all public servants to uphold the highest standards of integrity.
“At a time when the president is openly calling for his attorney general to investigate his political enemies, it is especially important to honor the American principle of being innocent until proven guilty in a court of law by a jury of one’s peers.”
The investigation into the matter began during the Biden administration. The indictment doesn’t mention Newsom.
The indictment also alleges that Williamson conspired with a business associate to create false, backdated contracts after receiving a civil subpoena in January 2024 from the U.S. Attorney’s Office regarding Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans made to Williamson’s business.
Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference about “legal action against the Trump administration” at the Office of the Attorney General in Sacramento, Calif., Oct. 28, 2025. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“Disguising personal luxuries as business expenses — especially to claim improper tax deductions or to willfully file fraudulent tax returns — is a serious criminal offense with severe consequences,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen.
