Nov. 13 (UPI) -- A political consultant and former chief of staff for California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been indicted on accusations of skimming campaign funds from former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
Federal prosecutors said Dana Williamson, 53, of Carmichael, Calif., was arrested Wednesday morning. A 23-count federal indictment was then unsealed, charging her with a slew of conspiracy, fraud and other charges.
U.S. Attorney Eric Grant said in a statement that "this is a crucial step in an ongoing political corruption investigation that began more than three years ago," during the administration of President Joe Biden.
According to the indictment, the elaborate scheme began in February 2022, Williamson, who still worked in public affairs and lobbying at the time, and Sean McCluskie, chief of staff to Becerra, the former attorney general of California who Biden made his secretary of Health and Human Services.
Because Becerra was elevated to the federal government in 2021, he was prohibited by law from engaging in campaign activities. This meant his state campaign account became dormant, and the campaign funds he already received were moved to a new account for a future campaign.
