Overview
- Dana Williamson, 53, was arrested after a federal grand jury unsealed charges including conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, obstruction of justice, filing false tax returns and making false statements.
- She pleaded not guilty at her initial appearance and was released on a $500,000 bond with travel restrictions and passport surrender, with a next hearing set for Dec. 11.
- Prosecutors allege that from February 2022 to September 2024 she helped divert about $225,000 from a dormant campaign tied to Xavier Becerra, disguising payments as a no-show job that funneled money to Sean McCluskie.
- The indictment also accuses her of claiming over $1 million in personal expenses as business deductions and attempting to create backdated contracts after a January 2024 subpoena related to PPP loans.
- Greg Campbell and McCluskie have entered plea agreements in related cases, and officials say neither Gov. Gavin Newsom nor Becerra is charged with wrongdoing.