"The indictment, first reported by the Sacramento Bee, alleges that Williamson, a longtime Democratic strategist, worked with Greg Campbell, a prominent Sacramento lobbyist, and Sean McCluskie, the former chief of staff to former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, as well as two other unnamed co-conspirators to steal $225,000 from an unnamed former official's dormant campaign account for McCluskie's personal use."
"Prosecutors allege that Williamson and one of the unnamed co-conspirators, described only as a former California public official who owned a political consulting firm, used their political strategy firms to funnel money out of a campaign account, believed to be Becerra's, into an account controlled by McCluskie. They allegedly disguised the funds as payments for McCluskie's spouse, who was described in the indictment as a stay-at-home parent."
"Williamson is also accused of falsely claiming more than $1.7 million in business expenses on her taxes. She used the funds to purchase a $15,000 Chanel handbag and earrings, a chartered jet trip and a nearly $170,000 birthday trip to Mexico, the indictment alleges. She is also accused of conspiring to retroactively create fake contracts to justify federal loans made to her company, Grace Public Affairs."
Dana Williamson, former chief of staff to Gov. Gavin Newsom, and four co-conspirators were indicted on 23 counts of bank and wire fraud for alleged misconduct from 2022 to 2024. Prosecutors allege Williamson conspired with lobbyist Greg Campbell, Sean McCluskie, and others to divert $225,000 from a dormant campaign account into an account controlled by McCluskie, disguising payments as compensation for a no-show job and as payments to McCluskie's stay-at-home spouse. Williamson is accused of falsely claiming more than $1.7 million in business expenses and using funds for luxury purchases and trips. Campbell and McCluskie pleaded guilty and are cooperating with investigators.
Read at San Jose Inside
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