Ex-top aide to Gavin Newsom indicted in scheme to steal money from ex-US health secretary

A former top aide to California governor Gavin Newsom has been indicted on federal charges alleging her involvement in a scheme to steal campaign money from Xavier Becerra, the former US health secretary.

Dana Williamson was arrested and scheduled to make her first court appearance Wednesday in Sacramento. It was not immediately clear whether she had an attorney who could speak on her behalf.

The federal indictment lists four other co-conspirators. It alleges that Williamson was part of a scheme involving Sean McCluskie, who was Becerra’s chief of staff at the time of the alleged conduct.

Becerra is a former California attorney general who was appointed health secretary by Joe Biden. He is not implicated in the indictment.

The indictment alleges that Williamson and McCluskie took money from Becerra’s dormant campaign account and funneled it to McCluskie – about $225,000 over a period of more than two years.

Williamson was Newsom’s chief of staff from late 2022 until late 2024.

“Ms Williamson no longer serves in this administration. While we are still learning details of the allegations, the Governor expects all public servants to uphold the highest standards of integrity,” a spokesperson for Newsom said in a statement.

Becerra could not immediately be reached for comment.

The investigation began more than three years ago, FBI Sacramento special agent in charge Sid Patel, said in a statement. That means it started under the Biden administration.

Williamson faces 23 charges including conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruct justice, subscribing to false tax returns and making false statements, the US attorney’s office said.

If convicted, she could face up to 20 years in prison.

Williamson is a longtime Democratic power player in Sacramento. She was a cabinet secretary for former governor Jerry Brown before opening her own political affairs firm. She was also Becerra’s campaign manager when he ran for attorney general in 2018, and she later rejoined state government as Newsom’s chief of staff.