Dana Williamson Pleads Guilty to $225,000 Campaign Fraud and $1.7 Million Tax Scheme
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 14
Dana Williamson Pleads Guilty to $225,000 Campaign Fraud and $1.7 Million Tax Scheme
11 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 14
Dana Williamson admitted Thursday to fraud, false statements and tax evasion after prosecutors said she helped steal $225,000 from Xavier Becerra’s dormant campaign account and disguised the money as pay for nonexistent work.
Federal authorities said the funds were diverted to Becerra chief of staff Sean McCluskie, who had taken a pay cut to join him in 2021; McCluskie struck his own plea deal in December.
Williamson also admitted filing false tax returns that claimed about $1.7 million in personal expenses as business deductions. She faces up to 38 years in prison, with sentencing set for July.
The plea is likely to intensify attacks on Becerra in California’s governor’s race, though court documents say Williamson and McCluskie hid the scheme from him and Becerra said the case proves he "did nothing wrong."
Beyond campaign fraud, what other serious crimes has this California power broker admitted to?
What does this corruption case reveal about the candidate whose campaign funds were stolen?
A top aide pleads guilty to a 'no-show' job scheme; how common is this form of political corruption?