Former Newsom Aide Under FBI Investigation Received $62,000 in Taxpayer Funds After Departing Office

Former Chief of Staff to Gavin Newsom Under Investigation

Dana Williamson, who was Gavin Newsom’s chief of staff for a brief period, has been receiving taxpayer-funded benefits while on leave related to an ongoing corruption investigation. Despite being on leave, he collected over $62,000 in payments in 2025. This sum includes $30,000 for unused vacation time and another $22,000 for vacation time still due.

Williamson was put on leave after facing serious legal troubles. In December 2024, he was indicted on 23 federal charges, including fraud and conspiracy. These charges allege that he was involved in misappropriating around $225,000 in campaign funds from 2022 to 2024. Notably, investigators reportedly recorded a meeting between Williamson and two associates in 2024 discussing these matters.

Interestingly, California has a fund intended to pay for unused vacation time, though it currently owes workers a staggering $5.6 billion amid a projected budget shortfall of $17.7 billion.

Neither Newsom’s office nor the California Republican Party provided comments when approached regarding this issue.

Federal prosecutors have also charged Greg Campbell, a Democratic lobbyist, and Sean McCluskey, a Deputy Attorney General, with conspiracy related to bank and wire fraud. They both pleaded guilty shortly after their indictment was announced.

Williamson faces accusations of falsifying a COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program loan and submitting fraudulent tax claims for over $1 million in deductions, which were allegedly used for personal expenses and vacations. Interestingly, Newsom himself has not been implicated in the investigation.