Overview
- At her initial appearance in Sacramento, Dana Williamson pleaded not guilty and was released on a $500,000 bond with travel limits, a passport surrender and no-contact conditions, with the next hearing set for Dec. 11.
- Prosecutors allege that from February 2022 to September 2024 she and others siphoned about $225,000 from a dormant campaign tied to Xavier Becerra, routing payments through firms and a “no-show” job that benefited Sean McCluskie.
- The indictment also accuses her of filing false tax returns by claiming more than $1 million in personal spending as business deductions and of fabricating backdated contracts after a PPP-loan subpoena.
- Court filings show co-conspirators Sean McCluskie and lobbyist Greg Campbell have reached plea agreements, with McCluskie agreeing to pay $225,000 in restitution.
- Federal officials say the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation led the three-year investigation; prosecutors do not allege wrongdoing by Gov. Gavin Newsom or Becerra, and Becerra says he is cooperating.