As Gov. Gavin Newsom flew across the nation final yr campaigning for President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, his chief of workers Dana Williamson — referred to as one in all California’s hardest political insiders — was not solely serving to to helm the ship in Sacramento, however underneath legal investigation by federal legislation enforcement.
The ensuing legal case, which splashed into public view with Williamson’s arrest Wednesday, doesn’t implicate Newsom in any wrongdoing. Williamson’s alleged misdeeds occurred in non-public work previous to her becoming a member of his workers, and his workplace mentioned it positioned her on go away in November 2024 after she knowledgeable him she was underneath investigation.
Nonetheless, the bombshell allegations struck on the middle of the political energy circle surrounding Newsom, rattling one of many nation’s most outstanding and essential hubs of Democratic state energy at a time when President Trump and his Republican administration wield energy in Washington.
Williamson was charged with financial institution and tax fraud for allegedly siphoning marketing campaign and COVID-19 restoration funds into her and an affiliate’s pockets and claiming private luxuries as enterprise bills on tax types. In keeping with the indictment, the marketing campaign funds have been drawn from a dormant state account of one other high California Democrat: gubernatorial candidate and former U.S. Well being and Human Providers secretary Xavier Becerra.
Two different well-connected aides in state politics have been additionally charged — and struck plea offers confirming the scheme — whereas a 3rd, with deep ties to probably the most well-connected circles of political and enterprise consultants within the nation, appeared in charging paperwork as an uncharged co-conspirator.
Williamson’s legal professional McGregor Scott, a former U.S. legal professional in Sacramento, advised The Occasions on Wednesday that federal authorities had approached Williamson greater than a yr in the past, searching for assist with some form of probe of the governor himself.
“She advised them she had no info to offer them, after which we wind up immediately with these expenses,” Scott mentioned. The character of that alleged probe is unclear.
Newsom’s workplace on Thursday mentioned it was “not conscious of any federal investigation involving the governor.”
Lauren Horwood, a spokesperson for the U.S. legal professional’s workplace in Sacramento, mentioned she couldn’t affirm or deny the existence of any investigation involving Newsom, in accordance with Justice Division coverage. Not one of the charging paperwork launched within the circumstances towards the three aides point out Newsom.
A loquacious liberal foil to Trump and sure 2028 presidential contender, Newsom has been in Brazil since Sunday and on Wednesday left for a deliberate journey into the Amazon with a small delegation after attending the United Nations local weather summit referred to as COP30. He left the convention earlier than information of Williamson’s arrest, and couldn’t be reached straight by The Occasions for remark.
In his absence, Newsom’s representatives have tried to attract a connection between the federal case and the contentious relationship between California and the Trump administration, although provided no proof that the investigation was influenced by the White Home.
“At a time when the president is brazenly calling for his legal professional common to analyze his political enemies, it’s particularly essential to honor the American precept of being harmless till confirmed responsible in a courtroom of legislation by a jury of 1’s friends,” a Newsom spokesperson mentioned Wednesday.
“Beneath the Trump administration, the DOJ routinely targets the state, which has resulted in us suing the federal administration 46 instances,” a Newsom spokesperson mentioned Thursday.
Trump and his administration have been accused of utilizing their energy — and management over the Justice Division — to go after his political enemies. Expenses reportedly deemed weak and unfounded by profession prosecutors have been introduced ahead anyway towards former FBI Director James Comey and New York Atty. Gen. Letitia James, whereas Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is being investigated for years-old occupancy claims in mortgage paperwork. All have denied wrongdoing.
The case towards Williamson and the opposite California aides, nevertheless, is one thing totally different — originating years in the past underneath the Biden administration.
“At the moment’s expenses are the results of three years of relentless investigative work, in partnership with IRS Legal Investigation and the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace,” FBI Sacramento Particular Agent in Cost Sid Patel mentioned Wednesday.
Abigail Jackson, a White Home spokesperson, rejected the notion that the case was in any approach pushed by the Trump administration or politically motivated.
“What an absurd declare to make when public reporting has already famous that this investigation started underneath the Biden DOJ,” Jackson mentioned. “The Trump administration is restoring integrity and accountability to the Justice Division.”
Prosecutors even have plea offers with two of the first suspects within the case, wherein they corroborate among the allegations.
In keeping with the 23-count indictment, unsealed Wednesday morning, Williamson conspired with Sean McCluskie — a former high assist to Becerra — and lobbyist Greg Campbell to invoice Becerra’s dormant state marketing campaign account for bogus consulting providers. The three allegedly used shell firms to funnel cash out of the marketing campaign fund beginning in 2022.
Federal authorities alleged the majority of the funds have been made to McCluskie’s spouse, who didn’t really present consulting providers, and deposited into an account accessed by McCluskie. Becerra, who has not been accused of wrongdoing, mentioned Wednesday’s expenses alleging “impropriety by a long-serving trusted advisor are a intestine punch,” and that he was cooperating with authorities.
As well as, Williamson was charged with falsifying paperwork for a COVID-era small enterprise mortgage, and with claiming luxurious items and providers — together with a $15,353 Chanel purse, $21,000 in non-public jet journey and a $150,000 birthday journey to Mexico, full with an $11,000 yacht journey — as enterprise bills on her tax returns, federal prosecutors mentioned.
Williamson appeared in federal courtroom in Sacramento on Wednesday afternoon, and pleaded not responsible to the fees.
Williamson’s legal professional mentioned he has been in “common communication” with federal prosecutors concerning the case for a while, and had requested to satisfy with prosecutors to “current our facet” earlier than any expenses have been introduced, however that request “was not honored.”
As a substitute, officers “selected grandstanding as an alternative of the traditional course of” and arrested Williamson at residence Wednesday, regardless of her being critically in poor health and in want of a liver transplant, Scott mentioned. Williamson couldn’t be reached for remark straight.
Williamson beforehand labored as a Cupboard secretary to former Gov. Jerry Brown, who additionally couldn’t be reached for remark Thursday.
The case towards Williamson is bolstered by acknowledgments of guilt from at the least two others.
McCluskie — a former chief deputy legal professional common of California when Becerra was legal professional common — pleaded responsible to conspiracy to commit fraud and is cooperating with authorities, courtroom filings present. He couldn’t be reached for remark.
Campbell pleaded responsible to conspiracy to commit fraud and conspiracy to defraud and commit offenses towards the U.S. authorities. Campbell’s legal professional Todd Pickles mentioned his shopper “takes full accountability for his actions and is cooperating absolutely with the authorized course of.”
The case additionally includes one other longtime California political insider: Alexis Podesta, a former secretary of the California Enterprise, Client Providers and Housing Company who Newsom appointed to the State Compensation Insurance coverage Fund board of administrators in January 2020. A spokesperson for the board confirmed Podesta remained a member as of Thursday morning.
Invoice Portanova, Podesta’s legal professional, confirmed to The Occasions that Podesta is the particular person recognized as “Co-Conspirator 2” in charging paperwork — together with McCluskie’s plea settlement, which alleges she funneled the marketing campaign funds to him.
Portanova mentioned Podesta inherited duties for dealing with the Becerra account from Williamson when Williamson left to change into Newsom’s chief of workers. Podesta didn’t understand something “uncommon concerning the accounts, how they have been arrange or who had set them up,” so continued making funds as beforehand organized, Portanova mentioned.
Nevertheless, “when confronted with the knowledge that it was improper funds,” Portanova mentioned, she instantly stopped the funds, and “has been absolutely cooperative with the federal authorities at each stage of those proceedings.”
He mentioned she is just not charged, and “shouldn’t be charged” transferring ahead. He in any other case declined to remark, as “investigations are ongoing.”
Podesta had shut ties to among the most influential Democratic political consultants in California, including to the intrigue surrounding the case.
In September 2020 — about eight months after Newsom had appointed Podesta to the insurance coverage board for staff’ compensation — Politico reported on a brand new “affect superteam” of Democratic political consultants forming in California.
The undertaking, it mentioned, could be referred to as the Collaborative. Amongst its “architects” have been Williamson and Campbell, in addition to Jim DeBoo, one other former Newsom chief of workers. Its managing director, the outlet reported, could be Podesta.
Amongst its enlisted consultants, it mentioned, could be Sean Clegg of Bearstar Methods, one other former senior advisor to Newsom, and Shannon Murphy, of M Strategic Communications, who has ties to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
DeBoo, Clegg and Murphy haven’t been accused of any wrongdoing.
“Bearstar participated in a joint advertising and marketing press launch with the Collaborative and labored on one marketing campaign with the Collaborative’s members in 2022. Bearstar and its companions had no curiosity, stake or different involvement with this entity,” David Beltran, a consultant of Bearstar, mentioned in a press release Thursday.
Murphy additionally launched a press release concerning the enterprise: “5 years in the past, our agency participated in a joint-marketing effort. We had zero possession or function within the enterprise entity that was created and had no data of its funds or operations till yesterday’s information tales.”
DeBoo didn’t reply to requests for remark Thursday.
Members of the Collaborative advise among the largest firms in not simply the nation, however the world.
The Collaborative’s web site was not too long ago scaled right down to a easy touchdown web page, however it beforehand touted itself there as “the hub for probably the most proficient public affairs, marketing campaign, disaster administration, communications and lobbying companies in California,” offering shoppers “the power to decide on one or a number of companies that work collectively — reasonably than compete — to offer their shoppers with the absolute best outcomes.”
The web site led with what it referred to as a proverb: “In the event you name one wolf, you invite the pack.”
