Free Republic

The FBI has sent ominous letters to members of California Governor Gavin Newsom's inner circle after his former chief of staff was indicted on corruption charges. Dana Williamson, who served as Newsom's top aide from early 2023 to the fall of 2024, was hit with 23 felony charges earlier this month for conspiring to divert $225,000 of campaign money to another staffer. Now, a host of political operatives with links to Williamson have been notified that they were surveilled during the course of the investigation into her actions. Letters reportedly began arriving in mailboxes immediately after she was charged informing...

Dana Williamson, who served as California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s chief of staff from January 2023 to December 2024, faces a slew of federal charges for fraud, corruption, and obstruction, but none of those charges implicate her for wrongdoing in her capacity as Newsom’s aide. Instead, the charges allege that she stole and deceived outside of her official duties.That prospect is threatening to rope Newsom’s entire administration into the scandal.However, speculation is growing that Williamson also acted improperly in office — meaning that wrongdoing was taking place in the governor’s office under Newsom’s watch. That prospect is threatening to rope Newsom’s...

The federal case against Newsom’s former chief of staff Dana Williamson and other well-connected aides reaches deep into one of the most powerful political circles in California, and the country. An attorney for Williamson said she was approached by federal authorities for help in an undisclosed probe involving Newsom, but told them she had no information to share. Newsom has not been accused of any wrongdoing, and his office said it is unaware of any investigation of the governor. As Gov. Gavin Newsom flew around the country last year campaigning for President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, his chief...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A former top aide to California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been indicted on federal charges alleging her involvement in a scheme to steal campaign money from former federal Health Secretary Xavier Becerra. Dana Williamson was arrested and appeared in court Wednesday in Sacramento. She pleaded not guilty to all charges, and a judge ordered her released from custody. The federal indictment lists four other co-conspirators. It alleges that Williamson developed a plan with Sean McCluskie, a longtime Becerra aide, to siphon money from one of Becerra’s dormant state campaign accounts to give to McCluskie to pad...