For years, Alexis Podesta has been a quiet but formidable presence in Sacramento — a political operator whose influence has often been felt more than seen across California’s Democratic establishment.
That behind-the-scenes profile has now shifted dramatically. According to Dana Williamson’s attorney, Podesta became a key FBI witness and wore a wire during a federal probe that led to charges against Williamson, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s former chief of staff.
Podesta, 45, built her career over decades in Democratic politics before moving into the lucrative world of lobbying.
Today, she runs the Podesta Company, a Sacramento-based lobbying and government affairs firm she founded in 2020 after departing state government.
Her government résumé includes serving as secretary of the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency under then-Gov. Jerry Brown from 2017 to 2020.
Before taking that cabinet-level role, she held several positions in Brown’s administration, including director of external affairs, director of international affairs and chief of protocol.
Podesta’s career also includes work at PG&E, the Walt Disney Co. and in the office of the late U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, where she served as director of scheduling.
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When Newsom took office, he appointed Podesta in 2020 to the board of the State Compensation Insurance Fund, a post she still holds. The role pays nearly $61,000 a year, even as she has emerged as a central figure in the federal corruption investigation surrounding the governor’s political circle.
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Newsom’s office declined to comment on keeping Podesta on the board despite her being an FBI’s mole, calling it a personnel matter.
Podesta has been identified as “Co-Conspirator 2” in the Williamson indictment. She was accused of taking over management of former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra’s dormant campaign account after Williamson joined Newsom’s administration.
Prosecutors allege the account was used to funnel roughly $225,000 through a series of sham consulting payments that ultimately benefited Becerra’s former chief of staff, Sean McCluskie. Podesta has not been charged with a crime.
Her attorney, Bill Portanova, has acknowledged to other media outlets that she is the unnamed co-conspirator described in court filings, saying she began cooperating with federal investigators after uncovering what he has characterized as wrongdoing by others.
Outside of government, Podesta has also served on the board of cannabis company Body and Mind Inc., advised luxury vacation-home startup Pacaso and belonged to Chief, an executive networking organization, according to her LinkedIn.
Now, according to Williamson’s attorney, she could add FBI wiretaps to her list of skills.
