Former Newsom chief of staff pleads guilty in campaign account embezzlement scheme [VIDEO]

SACRAMENTO -- Political consultant Dana Williamson pleaded guilty to three felonies Thursday morning in connection with an embezzlement scheme. Prosecutors dropped 20 other charges, meaning Williamson will probably serve only a fraction of the 30 years or more sentence she could have faced.

The scandal has become an issue in California's chaotic governor's race. Williamson and two co-conspirators have admitted stealing $225,000 from a dormant campaign account belonging to former Attorney General Xavier Becerra.

The high-profile case brought a crowd of Capitol reporters and onlookers who filled every seat in U.S. Chief District Judge Troy L. Nunley's courtroom. Williamson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, subscribing to a false tax return, and making false statements to a federal agent. *United States v. Williamson*, 2:25-cr-00258-TLN (E.D. Cal., filed Nov. 7, 2025).

Nunley led Williamson through an extensive set of questions in which she acknowledged she was freely entering her plea and knew that she could face repercussions such as losing the right to vote. It was a staggering fall from grace for the former chief of staff to Gov. Gavin Newsom, who just a few years ago was widely considered the most powerful unelected person in Sacramento.

She also confirmed that she understood she faces significant financial repercussions. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California, she must pay restitution, including $500,000 to the IRS, and over $1 million in possible fines.

"Dana Williamson and her co-conspirators weaponized public trust for personal gain," said Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office in the government's news release. "They stole from a campaign account, fabricated contracts, filed false tax returns, and lied to federal agents. The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation spent years investigating this case because integrity in public service isn't optional. No title and no political connection places anyone above the law."

Williamson's attorney, King & Spalding partner McGregor W. Scott, held an extended press availability with reporters outside the courthouse after the hearing. While he acknowledged his client's guilt, he cited several mitigating factors.

Scott said Williamson agreed to make payments to co-conspirator Sean McCluskie out of the account because he was facing financial troubles. McCluskie was chief of staff for then-Health and Human Services Secretary Becerra, working in Washington, D.C., while his wife and children remained behind in California. Williamson only agreed to the payments after McCluskie rejected her offer to pay him herself and assured her that Becerra had verbally approved the payments.

"When we look at the total of the circumstances here, we have a person who was motivated by trying to help a friend at a time of need, offered to pay out of her own pocket," Scott said, adding that Williamson "lost money on this fraud scheme."

Several reporters asked about the timing of the prosecution. It is customary for the U.S. Justice Department to pause a prosecution when it could affect the result of a pending election. A former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of California during the first Trump administration, Scott was noncommittal when asked if he thought the prosecution was motivated by the current administration seeking revenge on a former Biden Cabinet secretary.

"I have no evidence on which to base the answer," Scott said. "But I think it's a fair question to put to the government."

Becerra has recently surged to the top of a crowded field of Democrats after the implosion of the onetime front-runner, now former Congressman Eric Swalwell. Scott decried the fact that Becerra's rivals have been making ads trying to link him to the scandal. He added the hearing "clearly" took place within 60 days of California's June primary, and that the federal government rejected a request to put it off until after that election.

Nunley allowed Williamson to stay free on supervised release pending a July 9 sentencing hearing, though Scott and prosecutors said they had conflicts that would force them to reschedule.

At the news conference after the hearing, Scott acknowledged the widespread reports that his client could have faced 30 years. But he said, "that never happens," especially in cases where a person has not been convicted of prior crimes. Scott also praised Williamson for her resilience, saying her appearance "is like night and day" from before her liver transplant.

King & Spalding associate Matthew Rowan said they believe Williamson's sentence will likely be between 30 and 37 months.

"I want to keep my powder dry, because I don't want to tip my hand off quite yet, but we will be arguing very forcefully for the sentence to be as minimal as possible," Scott said.