The Justice Department is currently investigating Governor Gavin Newsom and his wife, with new developments surrounding one of his former aides, Dana Williamson, stirring up significant concerns about Newsom’s associations in Sacramento.
Williamson, who was Newsom’s chief of staff from late 2022 to early 2025, recently pleaded guilty to conspiracy involving the misappropriation of congressional campaign accounts linked to Xavier Becerra, a former Biden cabinet official now running to replace Newsom as California’s governor.
But there’s more. Williamson also confessed to submitting false tax returns and misleading the FBI regarding her dealings with Activision Blizzard, embroiled in one of California’s most notorious workplace discrimination cases.
With Williamson’s guilty plea and her impending sentencing next month, the spotlight has shifted onto Newsom. This week, he voiced allegations against the Trump administration, claiming the Justice Department is being used as a political weapon against him as he contemplates a presidential candidacy in 2028.
A source familiar with the federal inquiry suggested that Williamson’s actions could complicate matters for the governor. Interestingly, he issued a statement praising her qualities, despite knowing she was under FBI scrutiny when she left his office in late 2024.
Reports indicate that the investigation into Williamson traces back to 2022, possibly stemming from whistleblower claims in California. Meanwhile, law enforcement has increasingly scrutinized Newsom’s actions over the past year.
Williamson’s situation seems to be just one piece of a larger investigation, which also examines Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s financial matters and business dealings. As of now, neither the governor nor his wife has faced any charges.
Newsom’s press secretary, Tara Gallegos, characterized the federal probe as a politically motivated attempt to undermine the governor before a possible White House bid. She outlined how federal investigators are reaching out to friends, donors, and former colleagues, probing into the governor’s finances and personal affairs.
Gallegos remarked that they’ve not received specific information on the focus of the Justice Department’s inquiries, suggesting an overly broad fishing expedition for evidence of wrongdoing.
In light of Williamson’s guilty plea, legal experts indicate two conflicting angles: her crimes might be politically embarrassing yet legally irrelevant to Newsom, or they could hint at more significant issues tied to his actions.
Paul DeGroot, a former prosecutor, emphasized that federal prosecutors typically don’t target a sitting governor unless they believe they can substantively prove allegations against them. Also, since criminal defendants often cooperate with investigators, Newsom’s situation could get trickier if Williamson provides information against him.
Interestingly, the issues surrounding Williamson’s plea emerged during Newsom’s administration. For example, in 2021, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing accused Activision Blizzard of fostering a toxic workplace environment detrimental to female employees.
Additional allegations involved serious workplace misconduct, including allegations of discrimination against pregnant employees. Tensions mounted when California’s lead counsel raised concerns about political interference, leading to an intensified investigation into the governor’s administration.
Gallegos confirmed that federal investigators did probe claims related to Activision Blizzard but maintained that they did not find evidence suggesting Newsom or his office had manipulated the case outcomes.
The ongoing inquiry, however, complicates matters for Newsom. In 2023, California reached a significant settlement with Activision Blizzard over the workplace discrimination claims while dropping some of the more serious allegations.
The investigation has revealed Williamson’s attempts to circumvent public records requests linked to the Activision case, which ultimately led to her being placed on leave after the governor was made aware of the federal probe.
Williamson’s legal representative has contested the motivations behind the investigation, maintaining that she hasn’t shared information against Newsom simply because there’s nothing incriminating to relay.
Legal scholar Jessica Levinson pointed out the uncertainty surrounding the governor’s potential liability. It’s not clear yet whether this scandal primarily embarrasses him politically or if there’s something more serious involved.
