{"id":2602832,"date":"2026-05-14T16:40:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T20:40:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gavin-newsoms-former-chief-of-staff-pleads-guilty-and-the-plea-agreement-is-kind-of-amazing\/"},"modified":"2026-05-14T16:43:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T20:43:09","slug":"gavin-newsoms-former-chief-of-staff-pleads-guilty-and-the-plea-agreement-is-kind-of-amazing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gavin-newsoms-former-chief-of-staff-pleads-guilty-and-the-plea-agreement-is-kind-of-amazing\/","title":{"rendered":"Gavin Newsom&#8217;s Former Chief of Staff Pleads Guilty To Fraud"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgavin-newsoms-former-chief-of-staff-pleads-guilty-and-the-plea-agreement-is-kind-of-amazing%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2602832&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Teh text describes a federal corruption case involving Dana Williamson, the former chief of staff to California Gov. Gavin Newsom.On May 14, facing a 23-count indictment, Williamson pleaded guilty to three <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >federal offenses-bank fraud<\/a>, submitting a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-grants-26-pardons-and-3-commutations-includes-numerous-prominent-names\/\" title=\"Trump Grants 26 Pardons And 3 Commutations, Includes Numerous Prominent Names\">false tax return<\/a>, and making a false statement to federal agents. she has not yet been sentenced, and the plea agreement requires $725,000 in restitution.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also framed as part of a broader pattern: the article says Williamson is the third California political figure to plead guilty in a scheme tied to draining money from an unused campaign account associated with Xavier Becerra (a leading candidate for governor at the time). According to the text, other participants-Sean McCluskie and Greg Campbell-also pleaded guilty after using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-doj-appears-to-have-protected-biden-from-bribery-probe\/\" title=\"Biden...s DOJ Appears To Have Protected Biden From Bribery Probe\">fake consulting contracts<\/a> to redirect funds for personal benefit.<\/p>\n<p>The article highlights details from the plea agreement,including a recorded conversation (described as involving FBI surveillance) in which conspirators discussed creating lists of fake and backdated contracts,and it claims the agreement outlines how Williamson used the money-for example,payments to family members and spending on luxury items and travel.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-body body-md bdr-top-black pt-30\">\n<div class=\"row justify-content-center\">\n<div class=\"col-12\">\n<figure class=\"article-thumbnail mb-30 mb-sm-60\">\n<div class=\"article-thumbnail-caption d-flex align-items-center justify-content-md-end label-xs mt-15\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-camera me-10\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Image Credit<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=EEVSfHiFI9U\">KCRA 3 \/ YouTube<\/a>       <\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-share text-center article-share-simple\">\n<h5 class=\"label-sm mb-10\">Share<\/h5>\n<ul class=\"article-share-list list-unstyled m-0 p-0\">\n<li class=\"article-share-facebook m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/05\/14\/gavin-newsoms-former-chief-of-staff-pleads-guilty-and-the-plea-agreement-is-kind-of-amazing\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-facebook\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Facebook<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-twitter m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Gavin Newsom\u2019s Former Chief of Staff Pleads Guilty, And The Plea Agreement Is Kind Of Amazing&#038;url=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/05\/14\/gavin-newsoms-former-chief-of-staff-pleads-guilty-and-the-plea-agreement-is-kind-of-amazing\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-twitter\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Twitter<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-truth-social m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/share?title=Gavin Newsom\u2019s Former Chief of Staff Pleads Guilty, And The Plea Agreement Is Kind Of Amazing&#038;url=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/05\/14\/gavin-newsoms-former-chief-of-staff-pleads-guilty-and-the-plea-agreement-is-kind-of-amazing\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"currentColor\" style=\"width:36px;height:auto;\" viewbox=\"0 0 92 93\"><path d=\"M69.444 55.716H56.772v10.37h12.672zM64.487 37.795V27.32H38.666v38.664h13.18v-28.19zM21.05 27.321h12.653v10.471H21.051z\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/><\/svg>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Truth Social<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-link m-0\">       <button data-clipboard-text=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/05\/14\/gavin-newsoms-former-chief-of-staff-pleads-guilty-and-the-plea-agreement-is-kind-of-amazing\/\" data-tooltip-content=\"Copied!\" class=\"clip tooltip\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-link-variant\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Copy Article Link<\/span>       <\/button>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-email m-0\">       <a href=\"mailto:?subject=Gavin Newsom\u2019s Former Chief of Staff Pleads Guilty, And The Plea Agreement Is Kind Of Amazing&#038;body=%20https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/05\/14\/gavin-newsoms-former-chief-of-staff-pleads-guilty-and-the-plea-agreement-is-kind-of-amazing\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-email\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article via Email<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-email m-0\"><span class=\"printfriendly pf-button  pf-alignleft\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/#\" rel=\"nofollow\" onclick=\"window.print(); return false;\" title=\"Printer Friendly, PDF &#038; Email\"><span id=\"printfriendly-text2\" class=\"pf-button-text\"><i class=\"mdi mdi-printer\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p>A plea deal in California shines a remarkable light on the lives of the leftist nomenklatura.<\/p>\n<p>Dana Williamson is the former chief of staff to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, having served in that role in 2023 and 2024. On May 14, facing a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-edca\/media\/1417121\/dl?inline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">23-count indictment<\/a>, she <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/05\/14\/dana-williamson-plea-deal-corruption-case-00920078\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/president-trump-please-pardon-jon-woods-a-victim-of-process-crimes-like-michael-flynn\/\" title=\"President Trump, Please Pardon Jon Woods, a Victim of Process Crimes Like Michael Flynn\">pled guilty<\/a><\/a> to three federal crimes: bank fraud, submitting a false tax return, and making a false statement to federal agents. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. The plea deal also requires her to pay $725,000 in restitution to Biden-era Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and the IRS.<\/p>\n<div id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-3857906798\" class=\"d-flex justify-content-center fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2 fdrlst__b89e9-entity-placement\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1463670073398-0\" class=\"mb-30\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Williamson is the third California political player to plead guilty to participating in a scheme to drain money from an unused campaign account that belonged to Becerra, now a leading candidate for California governor. Former Becerra aide Sean McCluskie <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/sacramento\/news\/sean-mccluskie-california-campaign-fraud-case\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pled guilty<\/a> to fraud charges last November, and Sacramento lobbyist Greg Campbell <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-edca\/pr\/california-lobbyist-and-former-chief-staff-elected-official-plead-guilty-conspiracy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pled guilty<\/a> to fraud charges in December. The scheme involved fake contracts for consulting work that wasn\u2019t actually performed, allowing the participants in the conspiracy to use the money to subsidize their comfortable lifestyles.<\/p>\n<p>Williamson\u2019s signed plea agreement, obtained from the <a href=\"https:\/\/pacer.uscourts.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">federal court document website<\/a>, is a colorful piece of government storytelling. Here\u2019s the big gotcha moment:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters body-xs m-0 text-start\">\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-4\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-8\">\n<div class=\"article-thumbnail-caption d-flex align-items-center justify-content-md-end label-xs mt-15\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-camera me-10\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Image Credit<\/span>Screenshot       <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In that recorded conversation, with the FBI listening, the conspirators explicitly discussed the list of fake and backdated contracts they needed to create.<\/p>\n<p>Then the plea agreement, over Williamson\u2019s signature, describes how Newsom\u2019s left-wing chief of staff used her money:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters body-xs m-0 text-start\">\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-4\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-8\">\n<div class=\"article-thumbnail-caption d-flex align-items-center justify-content-md-end label-xs mt-15\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-camera me-10\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Image Credit<\/span>Screenshot       <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Six-figure fake wages to family members, luxury resorts, private jets, landscaping, nice things for the living room. Go take a look at <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/jenvanlaar\/status\/1989484304494465503\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dana Williamson\u2019s home<\/a>, by the way. This is how leftist grandees live while they lecture us about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dems-lost-all-credibility-on-social-distancing-after-biden-celebrations\/\" title=\"Dems Lost All Credibility On Social Distancing After Biden Celebrations\">social justice<\/a>. Remember that former congressman and gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2024\/02\/13\/news\/swalwell-campaign-continues-lavish-spending-including-at-5-star-dubai-resort-luxury-car-service\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">used campaign funds<\/a> on yachts, limousines, and five-star foreign resorts.<\/p>\n<p>Look up at the sky: Professional social justice warriors who hate rich people might be passing overhead at this very moment, bound for Canc\u00fan or Dubai on a private jet.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"> <span class=\"i9T8KhJy5StIPx0q2zAeQfUcBLX4jWHZnNOElap36boG1mvF7rdY\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ratio ratio-16x9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Full press conference | Dana Williamson&#039;s attorney reacts to plea deal in corruption case\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ClmtyHvAEaE?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><\/span> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">\n<div class=\"article-author-description fst-italic\">      Chris Bray is a senior correspondent at The Federalist and a former infantry sergeant in the U.S. Army. He has a history PhD from the University of California Los Angeles, not that it did him any good. He also posts on Substack, at &#8220;Tell Me How This Ends,&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/chrisbray.substack.com\/\">here<\/a>.<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author mt-30 mt-sm-60 pt-30 bdr-top-bold-black\">\n<div class=\"row g-0 align-items-center\">\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6\">\n<div class=\"article-author-profile d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-md-start\">\n<div class=\"article-author-details\">\n<div class=\"label-md\">Chris Bray<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6 d-flex justify-content-center justify-content-md-end mt-15 mt-md-0\">        <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/author\/chrisbray\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">More Articles<\/a>     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-tags bdr-top-black mt-30 mt-sm-60 pt-15 pt-md-45\">\n<ul class=\"list-unstyled d-flex flex-wrap align-items-center mb-0 mx-n10 p-0\">\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/california\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">California<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/californication\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Californication<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/corruption\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Corruption<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/dana-williamson\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Dana Williamson<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/doj\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">DOJ<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/false-statements\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">False Statements<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/federal-court\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Federal Court<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/federal-prosecutors\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">federal prosecutors<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/fraud\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Fraud<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/gavin-newsom\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Gavin Newsom<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/greg-campbell\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Greg Campbell<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/guilty-plea\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">guilty plea<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/leftist-hypocrisy\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">leftist hypocrisy<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/luxury-travel\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">luxury travel<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/nomenklatura\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">nomenklatura<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/plea-bargain\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">plea bargain<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/sacramento\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Sacramento<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/sean-mccluskie\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Sean McCluskie<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/social-justice-warriors\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Social Justice Warriors<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/tax-returns\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">tax returns<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>California plea deal exposes corruption among Newsom aides<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2086,"featured_media":2602833,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/accepts-deal-scaled.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[79689,6909,32742,32538,5894],"class_list":["post-2602832","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist","tag-california-government","tag-fraud","tag-gavin-newsom","tag-plea-deal","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/accepts-deal-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602832","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2086"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2602832"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602832\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2602836,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602832\/revisions\/2602836"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2602833"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2602832"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2602832"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2602832"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}