The corruption case may take down not just him, but also his potential successor.
When Dana Williamson, Newsom’s chief of staff, came under FBI investigation, the governor did not disclose the investigation.
Instead, Gov. Gavin Newsom put her on leave and praised “her insight, tenacity, and big heart.”
Why did Newsom cover up the investigation? Because it was really an investigation of him.
Williamson’s lawyer said that the FBI had been conducting a probe into Newsom and someone close to the former chief-of-staff claimed that “federal investigators tried to pressure Williamson into implicating Newsom.” They didn’t describe what it is Newsom might have been doing.
While his chief of staff was being arrested as part of a raid, Newsom had disappeared into the Brazilian rainforest after attending the UN’s COP30 conference in Brazil and to see the ‘effects of climate change’ in person while his spokesperson issued a statement claiming that Williamson “no longer serves in this administration” even though the alleged crimes were committed while she did, and implying that Trump was behind it. “At a time when the President is openly calling for his attorney general to investigate his political enemies, it is especially important to honor the American principle of being innocent until proven guilty.”
But the investigation began during the Biden administration before Trump came into office.
And it may entangle not only Newsom and kill his political prospects, but also those of his potential successor, former state attorney general and gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra, who also served in the Biden administration, as well as other Biden administration figures.
While Williamson, described by other Democrats as a “mafia boss”, was unknown to 99% of Californians, some called her the woman who pulled the strings and ran the state.
“Particularly for this governor, who has been distracted by his political aspirations, she’s literally been running the government,” a California Democrat power broker had claimed. “If you want to reach the governor, you want to call Dana first. She’s the filter for everything that gets to the governor.”
Newsom’s “filter”, according to the indictment and the FBI had engaged in public corruption under the governor, diverting $225,000 from Becerra’s campaign account to Sean McCluskie, Becerra’s former chief of staff, and also claiming $1.7 million in false businesses expenses including a $170,000 birthday trip to Mexico and a $15,000 handbag.
While the motive for Williamson’s $170,000 birthday trip is obvious, her reasons for moving a quarter of a million to McCluskie, who worked for Becerra when he succeeded Kamala as attorney general and then worked for him in the Biden administration, are unexplained.
Either Williamson allegedly committed a crime likely to send her to prison just because she liked McCluskie or the money may have been part of a much larger payment and rewards structure. --->READ MORE HERE
Sacramento lobbyist Greg Campbell pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy charges in a federal probe that has spooked California’s Democratic political establishment.
Campbell, formerly a top aide in the California legislature, was reportedly stoic as he entered a guilty plea Thursday as part of an alleged corrupt scheme involving Gov. Gavin Newsom’s former chief of staff and a longtime top aide to Xavier Becerra, the former Health and Human Services secretary who’s running to replace Newsom as governor.
“Mr. Campbell will remain focused on his family and making positive contributions to the community,” Todd Pickles, Campbell’s attorney, told reporters Thursday at the courthouse. “Mr. Campbell is deeply grateful for the support from his family and friends during this difficult time.”
Campbell copped to one charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one charge of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud. Prosecutors will seek lighter sentencing as part of the plea deal, per the LA Times.
Campbell is one of three Democratic power brokers charged in a sweeping federal indictment that accused Dana Williamson, a powerful lobbyist and former Newsom staffer, of working with Campbell and Sean McCluskie, Becerra’s former chief of staff, to skim $225,000 from Becerra’s dormant campaign account to pay for a no-show job for McCluskie’s spouse. --->READ MORE HERE
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