A political consultant who formerly worked as chief of staff for California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been indicted on fraud and tax crime charges, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday.
Dana Williamson, 53, of Carmichael, California, was arrested Wednesday morning. She was charged in a 23-count indictment with conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and obstruct justice, subscribing to false tax returns and making false statements.
The investigation into the “political corruption” scheme started more than three years ago, said U.S. Attorney Eric Grant of the Eastern District of California.
Williamson, along with co-conspirators, diverted over $225,000 in funds from a dormant political campaign to an associate’s account for personal use between February 2022 and September 2024, prosecutors alleged in a news release.
Williamson served as Newsom’s chief of staff from late 2022 through December 2024, according to the indictment.
The indictment states that the funds were moved into the account of alleged co-conspirator Sean McCluskie, who was chief of staff for “Public Official 1.” The complaint didn’t directly name who the official was, but at that time, McCluskie was chief of staff for then-U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra.
Becerra served as health secretary from 2021 to 2025, and prior to that as California’s attorney general.
Williamson also allegedly disguised “personal luxuries as business expenses” and claimed improper tax deductions, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California said.
She also allegedly conspired with a business associate to create “false, backdated contracts” in the summer of 2024 after she was issued a civil subpoena in January 2024 related to Paycheck Protection Program loans — federal loans designed to aid struggling businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic — that were made to Williamson’s political consulting company, prosecutors said.
It’s not immediately clear whether Williamson has retained an attorney. She did not immediately respond to a request for comment left on the voicemail of a number believed to belong to her. She’s due to appear in court Wednesday afternoon.
Neither Newsom nor Becerra were mentioned or implicated in the indictments.
Conspiracy to steal dormant political funds
The conspiracy began in February 2022 when Williamson, then working "in public affairs and lobbying" prior to working under Newsom, spoke with McCluskie about his “desire to have more money” while working as chief of staff to Public Official 1, the indictment said.
They allegedly came to an agreement: Williamson would bill consulting services to Public Official 1’s dormant campaign account — which McCluskie was responsible for authorizing payments for — and in turn, after passing through several accounts, the money would land in an account controlled by McCluskie.
Beginning April 2022, Williamson allegedly paid $10,000 per month to a company controlled by co-conspirators that then paid the sum to a bank account McCluskie controlled. The payments were disguised as income to McCluskie’s spouse for work “supposedly done for Williamson” — even though McCluskie’s spouse did not do any work for Williamson, the indictment said.
In November and December 2022, Williamson was preparing to re-enter state government service after being hired to work for Newsom. So, she arranged for another co-conspirator to take over her role “in concealing the payments to McCluskie,” the indictment said.
Williamson also allegedly tried to coordinate a cover-up. The indictment said when McCluskie’s spouse “refused to sign a backdated contract” in the spring of 2024, Williamson told McCluskie “that she would talk to Co-Conspirator 2 and take care of it.”
By the time the scheme ended in September 2024, McCluskie, with the help of Williamson and other co-conspirators, had stolen $225,000 in campaign funds, the indictment alleges.
McCluskie was also charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud in an indictment filed Nov. 5, according to court records. He agreed to a plea deal and to pay restitution for the scheme amount of $225,000. An attorney for McCluskie declined to comment Wednesday.
Becerra said he has been cooperating with the Department of Justice in the investigation into the alleged fraud.
“The news today of formal accusations of impropriety by a long-serving trusted advisor are a gut punch,” he said. “As California’s former Attorney General, I fully comprehend the importance of allowing this investigation and legal process to run its course through our justice system.”
Tax fraud allegations
On her tax returns, Williamson falsely claimed more than $1 million in business deductions for personal expenses that were actually for trips to luxury Mexican resorts, private jets, designer handbags and jewelry, the indictment said.
On her 2021 tax return, some of those deductions included a $15,353 Chanel handbag and ring, a Fendi handbag and wallet over $5,800, a $20,000 HVAC system at Williamson’s home, a $21,000 private jet charter and a $15,600 luxury hotel stay for her birthday, according to the indictment.
On her 2022 tax return, she reported false business deductions for personal expenditures including a $156,000 luxury hotel stay and activities in Mexico for her birthday, a $11,000 yacht rental in Mexico, $12,000 for Chanel earrings and a bag, and $10,620 for a trip to a California theme park.
A spokesperson for Newsom said Williamson no longer serves in the administration.
“While we are still learning details of the allegations, the Governor expects all public servants to uphold the highest standards of integrity,” the spokesperson said. “At a time when the President is openly calling for his Attorney General to investigate his political enemies, it is especially important to honor the American principle of being innocent until proven guilty in a court of law by a jury of one’s peers.”
