Friends establish legal defense fund for Gov. Newsom’s ex-top aide
WE BEGIN WITH BREAKING NEWS. THAT BREAKING NEWS. GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM’S FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF WALKING OUT OF THE COURTROOM TODAY IN SACRAMENTO FACING CHARGES IN A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION, ALONG WITH OTHER PEOPLE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT AT SIX. I’M ANDREA FLORES. I’M GULSTAN DART. DANA WILLIAMSON IS FACING CHARGES THAT INCLUDE FRAUD, CONSPIRACY, OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE AND MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS. KCRA THREE POLITICAL DIRECTOR ASHLEY ZAVALA JOINS US NOW WITH WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT THIS WAS A BLOCKBUSTER INVESTIGATION. IT IS. AND TONIGHT, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE’RE LEARNING GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM’S OFFICE SAYS THAT DANA WILLIAMSON WAS PUT ON LEAVE AS SOON AS SHE INFORMED THEM LAST YEAR THAT SHE WAS UNDER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. DANA WILLIAMSON IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA’S POLITICAL SYSTEM. SHE WAS ARRESTED THIS MORNING AND RELEASED THIS AFTERNOON ON A $500,000 BOND. SHE’S ACCUSED OF CONSPIRING WITH XAVIER BECERRA, FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF, SEAN MCCLUSKEY, TO TAKE $225,000 FROM BECERRA’S POLITICAL CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT. XAVIER BECERRA IS THE FORMER U.S. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY UNDER PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND FORMER CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL. HE IS RUNNING FOR CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR RIGHT NOW. INVESTIGATORS SAY THIS HAPPENED BETWEEN 2022 AND 2024, WHICH STARTED BEFORE BUT CONTINUED WHILE SHE WAS WORKING FOR GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM. SHE FACES 23 FEDERAL CHARGES RELATED TO THAT, INCLUDING WIRE FRAUD, BANK FRAUD, OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE AND FALSE TAX DOCUMENTS. WILLIAMSON PLEADED NOT GUILTY TODAY IN FEDERAL COURT. HER ALLEGED COCONSPIRATORS SEAN MCCLUSKEY AND WELL-KNOWN SACRAMENTO LOBBYIST GREG CAMPBELL HAVE PLEA DEALS, ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS. IN A STATEMENT, XAVIER BECERRA SAID, QUOTE, THE NEWS TODAY OF FORMAL ACCUSATIONS OF IMPROPRIETY BY A LONG SERVING TRUSTED ADVISER ARE A GUT PUNCH. I HAVE VOLUNTARILY COOPERATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IN THEIR INVESTIGATION AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO AS CALIFORNIA’S FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL. I FULLY COMPREHEND THE IMPORTANCE OF ALLOWING THE INVESTIGATION AND LEGAL PROCESS TO RUN ITS COURSE THROUGH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. HERE’S OUR EXCHANGE WITH WILLIAMSON AND HER ATTORNEY. WHEN THEY CAME OUT OF THE COURTHOUSE. GOOD. OTHER CALIFORNIA OFFICIALS AND PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE GOVERNMENT BE CONCERNED. NOW WITH THIS INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY. DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENT, MISS WILLIAMSON? YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS CAN CONTACT MY ATTORNEY. YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY AT ALL, MISS WILLIAMSON? DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY TO XAVIER BECERRA RIGHT NOW? HE CALLED THIS A GUT PUNCH WITH PROSECUTORS. MISS WILLIAMSON, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO SAY WITH THE 23 COUNTS AGAINST YOU ALLEGING THAT YOU AND COCONSPIRATORS FUNNELED MONEY TO FROM XAVIER BECERRA CAMPAIGN. I THINK THAT YOU JUST SAID. PLEASE, YOU GUYS CAN CONTACT MY ATTORNEYS FOR A STATEMENT. TALK TO HER ATTORNEY. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NOTHING TO SAY TO THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA. MISS WILLIAMSON, SHOULD GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM BE CONCERNED? MISS WILLIAMSON? GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM BE CONCERNED OUT HERE. GET OUT OF. HERE. THERE’S NOTHING. NOTHING ELSE WITH THE 23 CHARGES. SHOULD OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN CALIFORNIA, OTHER PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE GOVERNMENT BE CONCERNED HERE? I HAVE NO COMMENT ON THAT. THANK YOU. THIS IS THIS IS A THIS IS A BIG CASE, SIR. A LOT OF PEOPLE COULD BE INVOLVED. DANA WILLIAMSON WAS A VERY POWERFUL PERSON IN CALIFORNIA’S GOVERNMENT. THERE’S THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN SHARE AT THIS MOMENT. CAN YOU SAY WHEN WHEN WE MIGHT HAVE AN UPDATE OR SOMETHING FROM FROM YOU. SO IT WON’T BE FROM ME. IT’LL BE FROM HER. WELL, SHE JUST SHE JUST REFERRED. OKAY. SO YOU WON’T BE HER COUNSEL. I KNOW THERE’S SOMEBODY ABOVE ME. DANA WILLIAMSON’S NEXT COURT DATE IS SCHEDULED FOR THIS DECEMBER 11TH. THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH HER RELEASE FROM CUSTODY TODAY. SO AGAIN, JUST AGAIN, A BLOCKBUSTER DEVELOPMENT HERE. AND SO A LOT TO TAKE IN. WHAT ARE WHAT ARE SOME AREA DEMOCRATS SAYING ABOUT ALL THIS. EXCUSE ME. YEAH I’VE SPENT ALL DAY TALKING TO LAWMAKERS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED WITH DANA, POLITICAL CONSULTANTS, ALL WHO ARE STUNNED BY THIS. I WAS ACTUALLY IN A ROOM FULL OF POLITICAL CONSULTANTS TODAY, AS EVERYONE WAS FINDING OUT AT THE SAME TIME, SOME WONDERING WHAT MORE COULD COME FROM THIS INVESTIGATION. TWO QUESTIONS I KEEP HEARING MOVING FORWARD IN ALL OF THIS. ONE, HOW COULD THIS IMPACT GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM TO HOW COULD THIS IMPACT THE CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR? XAVIER BECERRA. OKAY. YEAH, WE KNOW YOU KEEP ASKING THE TOUGH QUESTIONS OUT THERE AND GET THOSE ANSWERS. ALL RIGHT, ASHLEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE HAVE POSTED THE FULL FEDERAL INDICTME
Friends establish legal defense fund for Gov. Newsom’s ex-top aide
Friends of Gov. Newsom’s former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, on Monday started a legal defense fund after she was indicted earlier this month and is accused of several crimes. Sacramento-based political consultant Steven Maviglio told KCRA 3 he started the fund with a group of friends. The fund has a goal of $100,000 and is being raised through online fundraising platform, Spotfund. (Video Above: Dana Williamson declines comment over public corruption allegations)”From the moment news broke about our friend Dana, she’s received an outpouring of support from friends, family and colleagues across the nation. Your kind messages — fueled by collective outrage and fierce loyalty — have been invaluable as she fights the legal battle of her life,”read the appeal on the fund’s website stated. “Many of you have asked how you can help Dana in this costly fight, which is why we established a legal defense fund. It will ensure her excellent legal team has the resources necessary to wage a powerful defense,” the appeal read.Mark Krausse was the first person to donate $1,000 on Monday afternoon. Gov. Newsom appointed Krausse to the California Public Employment Relations Board when Williamson was his chief of staff. Krausse previously served as Director of State Agency Relations for PG&E and Executive Director of the Fair Political Practices Commission from 2000 to 2007.Williamson is accused of helping the chief of staff of former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Sean McCluskie, funnel money from one of Becerra’s inactive campaign accounts to McCluskie’s personal account. Federal investigators say she also falsified documents related to her paycheck protection loans and accused her of tax fraud. She faces 23 federal charges. RELATED | Who are the people involved in the California political corruption case?Williamson ran a successful political consulting firm, Grace Public Affairs, before her arrest and served as Gov. Newsom’s Chief of Staff in 2023 and 2024. State records show she made $234,122 in 2024 as a state employee. “This is likely to be a protracted battle against the government — and lawyers are extremely expensive,” Maviglio said. Williamson hired former U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott to represent her. Her next court date is scheduled for Dec. 11. KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.
Friends of Gov. Newsom’s former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, on Monday started a legal defense fund after she was indicted earlier this month and is accused of several crimes.
Sacramento-based political consultant Steven Maviglio told KCRA 3 he started the fund with a group of friends. The fund has a goal of $100,000 and is being raised through online fundraising platform, Spotfund.
(Video Above: Dana Williamson declines comment over public corruption allegations)
“From the moment news broke about our friend Dana, she’s received an outpouring of support from friends, family and colleagues across the nation. Your kind messages — fueled by collective outrage and fierce loyalty — have been invaluable as she fights the legal battle of her life,”read the appeal on the fund’s website stated.
“Many of you have asked how you can help Dana in this costly fight, which is why we established a legal defense fund. It will ensure her excellent legal team has the resources necessary to wage a powerful defense,” the appeal read.
Mark Krausse was the first person to donate $1,000 on Monday afternoon. Gov. Newsom appointed Krausse to the California Public Employment Relations Board when Williamson was his chief of staff. Krausse previously served as Director of State Agency Relations for PG&E and Executive Director of the Fair Political Practices Commission from 2000 to 2007.
Williamson is accused of helping the chief of staff of former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Sean McCluskie, funnel money from one of Becerra’s inactive campaign accounts to McCluskie’s personal account. Federal investigators say she also falsified documents related to her paycheck protection loans and accused her of tax fraud. She faces 23 federal charges.
RELATED | Who are the people involved in the California political corruption case?
Williamson ran a successful political consulting firm, Grace Public Affairs, before her arrest and served as Gov. Newsom’s Chief of Staff in 2023 and 2024. State records show she made $234,122 in 2024 as a state employee.
“This is likely to be a protracted battle against the government — and lawyers are extremely expensive,” Maviglio said.
Williamson hired former U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott to represent her. Her next court date is scheduled for Dec. 11.
KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.