Former Chief of Staff to California Governor Charged with Fraud
On Wednesday, Dana Williamson, who previously served as chief of staff for California Governor Gavin Newsom, was arrested and charged with several fraud offenses for allegedly attempting to embezzle $225,000 intended for a friend, according to the Justice Department.
The charges against Williamson, 53, come from a 23-count federal indictment that includes conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, defrauding the United States, obstruction of justice, filing false tax returns, and misleading authorities.
Williamson reportedly engaged in a scheme to redirect funds from inactive political initiatives into personal accounts of others.
U.S. Attorney Eric Grant emphasized the significance of this development in a larger corruption investigation that began over three years ago. He expressed the commitment of his office to collaborate with law enforcement to ensure protection against political corruption in California.
Documents also indicate that Sean McCluskey was a co-conspirator involved in receiving these funds. McCluskey previously worked as chief of staff for an individual referred to as “Civil Servant 1,” and was once the chief of staff to former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
Becerra, who earlier held the position of California’s attorney general, was appointed to his current role by former President Joe Biden.
Starting in April 2022, Williamson was said to have assisted McCluskey by using his political consulting firm to charge Becerra’s campaign for services. However, federal prosecutors have claimed that the money in question went to McCluskey’s wife for work that was never actually performed, resembling a “no-show job.” In late 2022, Williamson was set to join Newsom’s office, prompting him to arrange for a former public official to assume his role in the alleged scheme.
A spokesperson for Newsom confirmed that Williamson is no longer part of his administration, stating that the Governor expects public servants to uphold high standards of integrity. The spokesperson also mentioned the importance of maintaining the principle of innocence until proven guilty in light of the ongoing investigations.
The justice inquiries surrounding this situation began during Biden’s presidency, and notably, the indictment does not implicate Governor Newsom directly.
Moreover, the indictment alleges that after receiving a civil subpoena in January 2024 related to a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for Williamson’s business, she conspired with a business partner to fabricate backdated contracts.
Linda Nguyen, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS-CI Oakland Field Office, remarked on the seriousness of disguising personal expenses as business costs, highlighting the legal repercussions of filing fraudulent returns.
