A former top aide to California governor Gavin Newsom has been indicted on federal charges alleging her involvement in a scheme to steal campaign money from Xavier Becerra, the former US health secretary.
Dana Williamson was arrested and is scheduled to make his first court appearance Wednesday in Sacramento. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney who could speak for him.
The federal indictment lists four other co-conspirators. Williamson is said to be part of a scheme involving Sean McCluskie, who was Bererra’s chief of staff at the time of the alleged conduct.
Bererra is a former California attorney general appointed by Joe Biden as health secretary. He was not referred to by the accused.
The indictment alleges that Williamson and McCluskie took from Beterra’s dormant account and moved it to McCluskie — about $225,000 over a period of more than two years.
Williamson will be Newsom’s chief of staff from late 2022 to late 2024.
“Ms Williamson will no longer serve in this administration. While we are still investigating the allegations, the governor expects all public servants to have integrity,” a spokeswoman said in a statement.
Bererra could not immediately be reached for comment.
The investigation began more than three years ago, FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel said in a statement. That means it started under the Biden administration.
Williamson faces 23 charges including conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, conspiracy to attack the United States and subscribing to false statements, the US Attorney’s office said.
If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
Williamson is a longtime Democratic power player in Sacramento. He was a cabinet secretary for former Gov. Jerry Brown before opening his own political firm. He was also Becerra’s campaign manager when he ran for Attorney General in 2018, and he later reformed the state government as Namilya’s chief of staff.