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Dana Williamson, a former chief of staff to California Governor Gavin Newsom and a longtime Democratic political consultant, was involved in a federal corruption scandal centered on the misappropriation of campaign funds. In May 2026, Williamson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, filing a false tax return, and making false statements to federal investigators. The investigation revealed that between 2022 and 2024, Williamson conspired with former Xavier Becerra aide Sean McCluskie and lobbyist Greg Campbell to divert $225,000 from a dormant Becerra campaign account. The funds were funneled through "no-show" jobs for McCluskie’s wife under the guise of consulting services to supplement McCluskie’s federal salary. Additionally, Williamson was charged with tax fraud for claiming over $1 million in personal expenses—including luxury goods, private jet travel, and vacations—as business deductions on her tax returns from 2021 to 2023. She also faced accusations of conspiring to retroactively create contracts to justify COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program loans. As part of her plea deal, Williamson agreed to pay $500,000 in restitution to the IRS and shared restitution for the $225,000 campaign fund diversion. Prosecutors are expected to seek a sentence of approximately 2.5 to 3 years.