Dana Williamson

Dana Williamson, a former chief of staff to Governor Gavin Newsom and campaign aide to Xavier Becerra, is currently the subject of a federal corruption conviction. In July 2026, Williamson pleaded guilty to three felony counts: bank fraud, filing a false tax return, and lying to the FBI. The charges stem from a scheme to siphon approximately $225,000 from a dormant Becerra campaign account to pad the salary of Becerra’s former chief of staff, Sean McCluskie. Williamson admitted to managing these fraudulent payments, which were disguised as consulting fees for work that was never performed. Additionally, Williamson admitted to filing false tax returns between 2021 and 2023, claiming over $1.7 million in fraudulent business deductions for personal expenses, including luxury handbags, jewelry, private jet travel, and vacations. She also admitted to lying to the FBI regarding the campaign money scheme and the sharing of confidential state information with former clients to aid them in litigation against the state. Following her guilty plea, 20 of the original 23 charges against her were dismissed. She faces a maximum potential sentence of 30 years for bank fraud, though guidelines suggest a significantly lower term. Neither Governor Newsom nor Xavier Becerra were implicated in the criminal acts.