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Ex–Newsom Chief of Staff Dana Williamson Arrested, Indicted on 23 Federal Counts

Prosecutors cite a three-year FBI and IRS probe into an alleged $225,000 diversion from a dormant campaign account, with an initial hearing set in Sacramento federal court.

Overview

  • The indictment alleges Williamson helped steer roughly $225,000 from a dormant political campaign account to an associate by disguising the transfers as pay for a no‑show job between February 2022 and September 2024.
  • Charges include conspiracies to commit bank and wire fraud and to defraud the United States, bank and wire fraud, obstruction, filing false tax returns, and making false statements.
  • Prosecutors say she claimed more than $1 million in personal spending as business deductions and created backdated contracts after a subpoena related to Paycheck Protection Program loans.
  • Court filings identify co-conspirators including Sean McCluskie and Greg Campbell and tie the funds to a campaign account linked in reporting to former official Xavier Becerra, who is not charged.
  • Williamson was taken into custody after the indictment was unsealed and is due for an initial appearance in Sacramento; the governor’s office noted she no longer serves in the administration and emphasized the presumption of innocence.