Lead: Federal prosecutors unsealed a 23-count indictment on Nov. 12, 2025, accusing former Gov. Gavin Newsom aide Dana Williamson and associates of funneling money from Xavier Becerra’s dormant 2026 campaign account and falsely claiming luxury items and travel as business expenses. The charges allege roughly $225,000 was diverted from the campaign account and that about $1 million in high-end handbags, travel and related write-offs were improperly reported. Williamson, 53, was arrested in Sacramento, pleaded not guilty and was released on a $500,000 bond under conditions set by Judge Carolyn Delaney. The case has prompted cooperation from at least one co-defendant and drawn statements from Becerra and federal investigators.
Key Takeaways
- Indictment unsealed Nov. 12, 2025, lists 23 counts against consultant Dana Williamson and others in Sacramento federal court.
- Federal prosecutors allege $225,000 was siphoned from Xavier Becerra’s dormant 2026 campaign account for bogus consulting work.
- Authorities say Williamson claimed about $1,000,000 in luxury handbags, travel and related expenses as business deductions on tax returns.
- Specific alleged purchases include a $15,353 Chanel purse, a $5,818 Fendi wallet, a $150,000 birthday trip to Mexico (including an $11,000 yacht), a $21,000 private-jet segment and more than $10,000 at a California theme park.
- Sean McCluskie, former Becerra chief of staff, agreed to plead guilty to one conspiracy count and is cooperating, while other defendants are contesting charges.
- Williamson was released on $500,000 bond, ordered to give a DNA sample, submit to drug testing, surrender her passport and relinquish firearms; collateral deadline is Nov. 26, 2025.
- The alleged scheme reportedly began in early 2022, while Becerra served as HHS secretary in the Biden administration; the FBI says the probe spanned roughly three years.
Background
Dana Williamson served as Gov. Gavin Newsom’s chief of staff in early 2023 and left the position late last year. A veteran Sacramento operative who has also worked in prior California administrations, Williamson is described by associates as a hard-driving political manager with long ties to the state’s power circles. Xavier Becerra, who served as California attorney general before joining the Biden administration as Health and Human Services secretary, launched a campaign for governor of California ahead of the open 2026 race.
Campaign finance rules prohibit using a candidate’s committee funds for personal expenses; dormant accounts remain subject to federal and state election law. The federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), created during the COVID-19 pandemic, is also central to the indictment: prosecutors allege false documents were used to secure or justify PPP-era small business loan applications. The alleged conduct, if proven, intersects campaign finance, tax law and pandemic-relief fraud statutes, involving multiple jurisdictions and federal investigative teams.
Main Event
On Nov. 12, 2025, a Sacramento grand jury returned a 23-count indictment accusing Williamson, political consultant Greg Campbell, Sean McCluskie (former Becerra chief deputy and chief of staff) and others of a multi-year scheme. Prosecutors say shell companies controlled by the defendants billed Becerra’s dormant campaign for fake consulting services beginning in early 2022, diverting funds to family members and associates. The indictment lists alleged falsified invoices, fabricated consulting agreements and purportedly fraudulent bookkeeping to mask the transfers.
Williamson was arrested Wednesday in Sacramento and appeared in federal court wearing casual clothing; she pleaded not guilty and did not make a statement at arraignment. Judge Carolyn Delaney set a $500,000 bond and imposed conditions including DNA collection, drug testing, passport surrender and firearm relinquishment. Williamson was given until Nov. 26 to post collateral as part of the bond terms.
Prosecutors detailed alleged luxury purchases and travel written off as business expenses. Documents cited in the indictment list a $15,353 Chanel purse, a $5,818 Fendi wallet, a $150,000 birthday trip to Mexico that included an $11,000 yacht charge, a $21,000 private jet leg and a six-figure-plus pattern of other personal spending. Authorities say a substantial share of payments routed from the campaign fund flowed to McCluskie’s spouse for purportedly fabricated work.
McCluskie has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit fraud and is cooperating with investigators, court filings show. Gregory Campbell’s attorney issued a statement that Campbell is taking responsibility and cooperating; long-time associates expressed surprise, noting the defendants’ deep familiarity with political rulebooks. The FBI described the indictment as the result of a roughly three-year inquiry involving IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Analysis & Implications
Legally, the indictment places campaign finance violations, tax fraud and PPP-related falsifications at the center of a federal case that could involve layered proofs: intent to defraud, falsified documents and quid-pro-quo elements if payments were mischaracterized. Successful prosecution would require the government to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that defendants knowingly misled campaign records and tax filings, and that transfers were not legitimate consulting expenses. The involvement of cooperating witnesses, including a plea by McCluskie, strengthens prosecutors’ operational position but does not predetermine trial outcomes.
Politically, the timing matters. The 2026 California gubernatorial contest will be an open-seat race, with Becerra among prominent Democrats already campaigning alongside figures such as Katie Porter and Antonio Villaraigosa. Although prosecutors do not accuse Becerra of wrongdoing, the association of his dormant campaign account with an alleged fraud network could complicate his message and force opponents to raise ethical questions during the campaign season. Media scrutiny and negative advertising could exploit the allegations even absent direct evidence tying Becerra to the scheme.
For Gov. Newsom, who has signaled potential interest in a 2028 presidential bid and whose former aide is the defendant, the political fallout is less direct but potentially consequential. Officials and opponents may press for clarification about the aide’s conduct while in state office; Newsom’s team has emphasized the presumption of innocence and noted Williamson no longer serves in his administration. Opponents are likely to highlight any perceived lapses in vetting or oversight, though no allegations so far connect the actions to the governor’s official functions.
Institutionally, the case underscores continuing federal attention to pandemic-relief fraud and campaign-finance integrity. A successful prosecution could prompt campaigns and consultants to tighten internal controls, while a defense victory would raise questions about investigative thresholds and evidentiary standards in complex white-collar prosecutions. Either outcome may influence how political committees document consulting arrangements and how auditors and regulators review expense justifications.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Alleged Amount |
|---|---|
| Siphoned from Becerra campaign | $225,000 |
| Alleged luxury write-offs (total) | ~$1,000,000 |
| Chanel purse | $15,353 |
| Fendi wallet | $5,818 |
| Mexico trip (birthday) | $150,000 (includes $11,000 yacht) |
| Private jet segment | $21,000 |
| Theme park charges | >$10,000 |
The table isolates amounts cited in the indictment to show the mix of alleged campaign diversion and personal spending. Prosecutors frame the roughly $225,000 siphon as discrete transfers from a dormant campaign account, while the $1,000,000 figure represents the cumulative luxury items and travel that were allegedly claimed as business deductions. Comparisons to typical campaign consulting invoices or standard travel reimbursements would show a clear divergence from ordinary documented expenses, which is central to the government’s fraud allegations.
Reactions & Quotes
“The news today of formal accusations of impropriety by a long-serving trusted advisor are a gut punch. I have voluntarily cooperated with the US Department of Justice and will continue to do so.”
Xavier Becerra (candidate, statement)
“Today’s charges are the result of three years of relentless investigative work, in partnership with IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The FBI will remain vigilant in its efforts to uncover fraud and corruption.”
Sid Patel (FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge)
“He takes full accountability for his actions and is cooperating fully with the legal process.”
Todd Pickles (attorney for Greg Campbell)
Each quote arrived with context: Becerra’s statement emphasizes cooperation and the presumption of innocence; the FBI framed the case as a sustained probe involving multiple federal partners; defense counsel comments stress cooperation and character, reflecting an early-stage legal posture that often accompanies indictments in high-profile cases.
Unconfirmed
- There is no proven evidence in the indictment that Xavier Becerra had knowledge of or authorized the alleged scheme; that remains unproven in court.
- Any direct connection between the alleged expenditures and official duties performed while Williamson worked for Gov. Newsom has not been asserted by prosecutors and remains unverified.
- Media reports of additional uncharged transactions or broader networks of diversion have not been independently corroborated beyond the counts listed in the indictment.
Bottom Line
The unsealing of a 23-count indictment against a well-known Sacramento operative and her associates lays out detailed allegations of campaign-fund diversion, tax and pandemic-relief-related fraud. The charges involve specific dollar amounts and named transactions that, if proven, would reflect a coordinated effort to disguise personal spending as legitimate business or campaign expenses.
The legal process, including a cooperating plea by a former insider, is underway and expected to generate more documentation and testimony. Politically, the episode introduces reputational risk for anyone connected to the implicated accounts, even when the principal officials—here, Becerra and Newsom—are not charged. Observers should expect heightened scrutiny in the 2026 gubernatorial contest and potential election-year attacks, while the courts determine the factual record and legal consequences.
Sources
- Los Angeles Times (news reporting; original coverage of indictment and court proceedings)