SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A former high-ranking California Democratic operative has accepted a plea agreement on Thursday for charges that include conspiracy to commit bank fraud in connection with a plot to steal campaign money from Xavier Becerra during his tenure as federal health secretary.
The charges have brought scrutiny to Becerra as he campaigns for California governor, with election voting currently taking place and ending on June 2.
Dana Williamson’s plea agreement covers three of the original 23 charges she faced. Williamson previously worked as a senior aide to both Becerra and Gov. Gavin Newsom, though neither official has been accused of wrongdoing.
Court records show that if found guilty on all charges, which include filing false tax returns and making fraudulent statements, Williamson could receive up to 30 years behind bars and fines reaching $1 million.
Federal prosecutors allege that Williamson orchestrated the plan alongside accomplices, including Sean McCluskie, who had worked for Becerra for many years. Their goal was to divert funds from one of Becerra’s inactive state campaign accounts to boost McCluskie’s compensation after he took a position as chief of staff in Washington.
Court records indicate that McCluskie entered his own plea agreement on October 30, acknowledging guilt to one count of conspiracy involving bank fraud and wire fraud. He has committed to repaying the $225,000 taken from the campaign account.
Becerra previously served in Congress before being named California attorney general in 2017 to fill an open position, winning reelection in 2018 with Williamson managing his campaign. Former President Joe Biden subsequently selected him to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
Becerra has not issued any statement regarding Williamson’s plea agreement. Last November, he described the “accusations of impropriety by a long-serving trusted advisor are a gut punch.”
Williamson has been a prominent Democratic operative in Sacramento, recognized for her strategic skills and confrontational approach, frequently willing to engage in public and private disputes with opponents. She previously held a Cabinet position under former Gov. Jerry Brown, later established her own political consulting business, and eventually returned to government service as Newsom’s chief of staff.
The federal charges accuse Williamson of submitting fraudulent business tax documents between 2021 and 2023, claiming over $1 million in business write-offs for personal purchases including high-end purses and jewelry, private aircraft flights, Mexican vacations, home heating and cooling system installation, and several hundred thousand dollars in payments to family members for non-existent positions.
