California Gubernatorial Candidate Faces Financial Scrutiny
Xavier Becerra, a candidate for governor in California, is encountering difficulties when addressing concerns about his financial management and is attempting to distance himself from pending fraud allegations.
In a recent interview with KCRA, the former Secretary of Health and Human Services provided an extended answer to a query about how he would protect taxpayers from being defrauded if elected. However, his lengthy discourse seemed to sidestep the issue of fiscal responsibility.
Becerra, who has reportedly received support from Gavin Newsom’s team, reflected on his time at HHS and as the attorney general, discussing achievements like vaccine distribution during the pandemic. “When the coronavirus hit, we were able to provide 700 million vaccines by the end of my term, without asking Americans to pay anything,” he stated. He also emphasized actions taken to safeguard California during Donald Trump’s presidency.
“If people want to know what I’m doing, how I’m doing it, and whether I can be held accountable, I think they should look at the record,” he concluded.
However, part of Becerra’s past includes accusations involving a conspiracy orchestrated by former chief of staff Dana Williamson, lobbyist Greg Campbell, and Becerra aide Sean McCluskey. They allegedly redirected $225,000 from his inactive campaign funds for personal use between February 2022 and September 2024.
Williamson, who supported Becerra’s 2018 attorney general campaign, reportedly contributed $10,000 monthly while McCluskey worked as his chief of staff. The money was allegedly funneled through various means and misrepresented as payment for fictitious “no-show” roles.
While Williamson maintains her innocence, both Campbell and McCluskey have pleaded guilty. Becerra expressed in the interview that he felt misunderstood regarding the situation and described learning about it as a “disappointment.” He suggested that the $10,000 payments didn’t alarm anyone because multiple campaign lawyers found no issues.
Moreover, he justified his lack of financial oversight, indicating that it was essential for him to project political neutrality while serving as HHS secretary. According to him, although the payments were legally sanctioned, the subsequent use of that money raises questions.
He’s faced criticism from other candidates related to this incident. In another CNN interview, when confronted about his trust in McCluskey, he acknowledged that “people make mistakes.” Despite trailing in polls for some time, Becerra has surged to become a leading Democrat, particularly after former Rep. Eric Swalwell stepped back from the race amidst sexual assault allegations.
Reportedly, Newsom’s supporters view Becerra as a unifying figure. When questioned about grading Newsom’s performance during a recent KCRA session, Becerra hesitated, mentioning that he wasn’t sure if he could assess his predecessor while still giving an “A” for his handling of homelessness in a prior debate.
