Dana Williamson, Ex-Chief of Staff to Governor Newsom, Arrested in Federal Political Corruption Case

The U.S. Department of Justice unveiled a 23-count indictment alleging conspiracy, bank and wire fraud, obstruction of justice, and false tax filings tied to the misuse of campaign funds and luxury expenses.

Former chief of staff to Gavin Newsom, Dana Williamson, has been arrested by the United States Department of Justice and charged in a federal indictment unsealed Nov. 12, 2025, in the Eastern District of California.

The 23-count indictment accuses Williamson of participating in a scheme between February 2022 and September 2024 to divert approximately $225,000 from a dormant campaign account of a former U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Bacerra to a no-show job for a close associate, disguising the funds through business entities and falsifying invoices.

Federal authorities further allege that Williamson submitted false tax returns for her consulting firm, claiming more than $1 million in business deductions for expenditures that included a private-jet charter, luxury hotel stays, home furnishing, and designer handbags. 

The indictment also described her creating backdated contracts to justify federal Paycheck Protection Program loans.

Williamson appeared in federal court on Wednesday at 2 p.m. and entered a plea of not guilty. She was released on a $500,000 unsecured bond, subject to surrendering her passport and other conditions of release.

In a statement to CBS, Becerra said, “The news today of formal accusations of impropriety by a long-serving trusted adviser is a gut punch.” The governor’s office reiterated that Williamson no longer serves in the administration and emphasized the presumption of innocence, while adding that public servants are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity. 

The investigation stems from a multi-year probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division. U.S. Attorney Eric Grant described the case as “a crucial step in an ongoing political-corruption investigation.”

The investigation stems from a multi-year probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division. U.S. Attorney Eric Grant described the case as “a crucial step in an ongoing political-corruption investigation.”

If convicted, Williamson faces up to 20 years in prison on the bank and wire fraud charges, as well as additional penalties for tax crimes and obstruction of justice.