Becerra Adviser Pleads Guilty to Stealing $225,000, Jolting 2026 California Governor Race
Updated
Updated · Los Angeles Times · May 13
Becerra Adviser Pleads Guilty to Stealing $225,000, Jolting 2026 California Governor Race
6 articles · Updated · Los Angeles Times · May 13
Sean McCluskie, Xavier Becerra’s longtime adviser, pleaded guilty in December to stealing $225,000 from a dormant Becerra campaign account, a case now dogging Becerra’s gubernatorial bid.
Prosecutors say McCluskie diverted the money with consultants to offset living costs after taking a pay cut to join Becerra at HHS, using entities and a purported no-show job tied to his wife.
Becerra has not been charged and court filings describe him as a victim; he said he cooperated with investigators, appeared before a grand jury and trusted McCluskie to manage the account.
Rivals including Tom Steyer, Katie Porter and Antonio Villaraigosa are using the scandal to question Becerra’s judgment, warning an indictment before November could hand the governorship to Republicans.
The scrutiny could intensify this week: consultant Dana Williamson faces a 23-count federal indictment and has discussed a plea deal, while McCluskie is set to be sentenced June 4, two days after the primary.
What deeper vulnerabilities in political finance systems does the Becerra case reveal, and how can campaigns prevent similar inside jobs?
Could lax oversight of dormant campaign accounts expose more candidates to fraud scandals in future elections?
The ongoing legal troubles involving Dana Williamson, who was arrested and pleaded not guilty to charges of skimming money from Xavier Becerra’s campaign, have intensified scrutiny on Becerra just weeks before the June 2 primary. Two advisors connected to Williamson have already pleaded guilty, and a recent anonymous complaint accuses Becerra of violating campaign finance laws by paying Williamson’s firm over $74,000. This scandal has become a major concern in the political landscape, casting a shadow over Becerra’s campaign and fueling broader questions about candidate associations and financial integrity in the heated California governor’s race.