Becerra's Consultant To Plead Guilty To Skimming Campaign Funds

Sacramento — A seasoned California governmental advisor has agreed to plead blameworthy successful a strategy to bargain run costs from Xavier Becerra, now a starring campaigner for governor, erstwhile he served successful nan Biden administration, according to filings successful her criminal lawsuit connected Thursday.

Dana Williamson will plead blameworthy to 3 counts, including slope fraud and lying to authorities. In exchange, nan national authorities will disregard 20 different counts against her related to her taxation filings and a national COVID-era indebtedness she received.

A tribunal proceeding is scheduled Thursday morning.

Williamson, a erstwhile main of unit to Gov. Gavin Newsom, was arrested successful November and pleaded not guilty. The authorities secured blameworthy pleas successful December from 2 advisors who worked pinch alongside her to skim money from Becerra.

The lawsuit against her and a looming plea woody person taken halfway shape successful nan California governor’s race arsenic rivals activity to necktie nan charges to Becerra, who is simply a Democratic beforehand runner. He hasn’t been charged, and prosecutors overgarment him arsenic a victim.

Prosecutors opportunity that Williamson, Becerra’s then-chief of unit Sean McCluskie and lobbyist Greg Campbell took portion successful a strategy to siphon money from Becerra’s dormant run relationship and chimney it to McCluskie.

McCluskie needed nan money, according to prosecutors, truthful he could spend to alert location often to spot his family successful California while moving for Becerra, who was Biden’s wellness secretary, successful Washington, D.C.

As portion of nan scheme, Williamson and different advisor charged Becerra’s relationship up to $10,000 a period to negociate 1 of his dormant authorities run accounts.

Becerra approved nan payments, moreover though he had ne'er paid specified a precocious magnitude for a akin job. He told The Times that McCluskie told him to salary nan fees.

Becerra’s rivals successful nan governor’s title are hammering him complete his decision, arguing he should person known thing wasn’t right. Becerra has said that he didn’t cognize astir nan criminal behaviour and has called nan charges a “gut punch.”

Known arsenic an hard-nosed and fierce operator, Williamson’s profession successful authorities besides included moving for erstwhile governors Jerry Brown and Gray Davis and mentoring different women.

McGregor Scott, Williamson’s attorney, told reporters past twelvemonth that national authorities initially approached Williamson astir helping them pinch a probe into Newsom. She refused, he said, and was subsequently charged.

Details contained successful nan indictment and different nationalist records propose that national authorities were looking into nan state’s handling of alleged intersexual harassment astatine Activision Blizzard Inc., a video crippled company.