2 weeks ago
Dana Williamson, a apical California governmental strategist pinch ties to nan state’s governor, Gavin Newsom, and gubernatorial hopeful Xavier Becerra, pleaded blameworthy connected Thursday to fraud charges, an admittance that is poised to substance different candidates’ attacks successful nan race.
Federal authorities opportunity Williamson conspired to bargain $225,000 from a dormant run relationship belonging to Becerra, who was not named successful nan plea deal, and divert nan money to his main of staff, Sean McCluskie.
The costs were disguised arsenic salary to McCluskie’s spouse for nonexistent work. McCluskie reportedly took a salary trim to subordinate Becerra erstwhile he became nan US caput of wellness and quality services successful 2021.
McCluskie took a plea woody past December.
Becerra has maintained he did not cognize astir nan scheme, but his opponents person sought to nexus him to nan corruption investigation.
“We cognize that Xavier Becerra apt collapsed authorities law, and now he’s astatine nan halfway of an ongoing criminal investigation,” billionaire Tom Steyer, 1 of Becerra’s apical rivals successful nan governor’s race, said successful a connection aft Williamson’s blameworthy plea. “Democrats cannot spend to aftermath up connected June 3 and observe we’ve sewage a criminal connected our hands. Xavier Becerra should not beryllium our governor, and we can’t consequence having him arsenic our nominee.”
Katie Porter, nan erstwhile congresswoman besides moving for governor, said earlier this week that Becerra’s proximity to nan ungraded made him “too large of a risk” for voters.
Becerra’s run did not instantly return nan Guardian’s petition for comment.
Williamson wielded sizeable power successful Sacramento politics. She served arsenic main of unit to Newsom and furniture caput for Newsom’s predecessor, Jerry Brown.
Williamson besides pleaded blameworthy to making mendacious statements astir nan run money strategy and filing mendacious taxation returns, successful which she claimed astir $1.7m successful individual expenses arsenic business deductions, according to rule enforcement officials.
A tribunal day regarding her sentencing has been group for July. Williamson is facing up to 38 years successful prison.
