This week, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s former Chief of Staff Dana Williamson and other political influencers in California were named in a corruption investigation the U.S. Department of Justice made public.Officials say the investigation began more than three years ago, when President Joe Biden was in office. Williamson was indicted on 23 counts, which she has pleaded not guilty to while co-conspirators in the case have either said they’re cooperating in the investigation or are taking plea deals for fewer charges. Read the full indictment here. Below is a look at who is involved. Dana Williamson A longtime Democratic power broker in California’s Capitol, Williamson worked as an adviser to former Gov. Gray Davis and as a Cabinet secretary for former Gov. Jerry Brown before opening her own political affairs firm. She served as Xavier Becerra’s campaign manager when he ran for state attorney general in 2018. Becerra most recently served as President Biden’s Health and Human Services Secretary and is running for California governor. She was named Newsom’s chief of staff in late 2022, a job she held for about two years. Gov. Newsom’s office said Wednesday they put her on leave in November of 2024 after she informed them that she was under criminal investigation. Williamson is known for her savvy and aggressive style, often unafraid to spar publicly and privately with those who disagree with her. She deleted her X account last year after criticizing the leader of the California Labor Federation, Lorena Gonzalez, on the platform. Williamson is also a founding member of The Collaborative, an alliance of powerful political consultants.”The Collaborative is the hub for the most talented public affairs, campaign, crisis management, communications and lobbying firms in California,” the web page read before it was taken down. “Member firms give their clients the ability to choose one or several firms that work together—rather than compete—to provide their clients with the best possible outcomes.” Some of her co-conspirators listed below are also leaders of The Collaborative. The group’s members also include Bearstar Strategies, which help run Newsom’s campaigns, plus M Strategic Communications, Reforma Strategies and Sage Strategies. Business records filed two months ago show Jim DeBoo is a manager of The Collaborative. He did not return KCRA 3’s request for comment when asked if The Collaborative is still operational. | Dig Deeper | These are the three issues in the complex claims against Dana WilliamsonSean McCluskie Sean McCluskie is the former Chief of Staff for Xavier Becerra. He also served with Becerra when he was California Attorney General. McCluskie has deleted his LinkedIn page as of Thursday. Greg Campbell Greg Campbell is a well-connected lobbyist and consultant. The most recent campaign finance data shows his long list of clients include Major League Baseball, Amazon, TikTok, PG&E, DraftKings, and United Healthcare Services. The City of Fresno said it would terminate his contract Thursday, according to the San Joaquin Valley Sun. He has worked as senior staff for the last five Assembly Speakers including in the role of chief of staff to Speakers Toni G. Atkins and John A. Perez. Campbell is also listed as a founder of The Collaborative with Williamson. Alexis Podesta Podesta’s attorney confirmed she is the unnamed co-conspirator in the court documents that lay out the allegations against Williamson. She has not been charged with any crimes as of Thursday and her attorney said she is cooperating with the investigation. Podesta is a Sacramento-based political consultant who served as a secretary under Gov. Jerry Brown. She is also a member of the board of the state compensation fund. She has also worked for PG&E and Disney. She is listed as a managing director and member of The Collaborative, the group led by Campbell and Williamson. Her attorney, Bill Portanova, told KCRA 3 The Collaborative continues to be operational and that Podesta is still a part of it. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
This week, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s former Chief of Staff Dana Williamson and other political influencers in California were named in a corruption investigation the U.S. Department of Justice made public.
Officials say the investigation began more than three years ago, when President Joe Biden was in office.
Williamson was indicted on 23 counts, which she has pleaded not guilty to while co-conspirators in the case have either said they’re cooperating in the investigation or are taking plea deals for fewer charges.
Below is a look at who is involved.
Dana Williamson
San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers
A longtime Democratic power broker in California’s Capitol, Williamson worked as an adviser to former Gov. Gray Davis and as a Cabinet secretary for former Gov. Jerry Brown before opening her own political affairs firm.
She served as Xavier Becerra’s campaign manager when he ran for state attorney general in 2018. Becerra most recently served as President Biden’s Health and Human Services Secretary and is running for California governor.
She was named Newsom’s chief of staff in late 2022, a job she held for about two years. Gov. Newsom’s office said Wednesday they put her on leave in November of 2024 after she informed them that she was under criminal investigation.
Williamson is known for her savvy and aggressive style, often unafraid to spar publicly and privately with those who disagree with her. She deleted her X account last year after criticizing the leader of the California Labor Federation, Lorena Gonzalez, on the platform.
Williamson is also a founding member of The Collaborative, an alliance of powerful political consultants.
“The Collaborative is the hub for the most talented public affairs, campaign, crisis management, communications and lobbying firms in California,” the web page read before it was taken down. “Member firms give their clients the ability to choose one or several firms that work together—rather than compete—to provide their clients with the best possible outcomes.”
Some of her co-conspirators listed below are also leaders of The Collaborative. The group’s members also include Bearstar Strategies, which help run Newsom’s campaigns, plus M Strategic Communications, Reforma Strategies and Sage Strategies.
Business records filed two months ago show Jim DeBoo is a manager of The Collaborative. He did not return KCRA 3’s request for comment when asked if The Collaborative is still operational.
| Dig Deeper | These are the three issues in the complex claims against Dana Williamson
Sean McCluskie
Sean McCluskie is the former Chief of Staff for Xavier Becerra. He also served with Becerra when he was California Attorney General.
McCluskie has deleted his LinkedIn page as of Thursday.
Greg Campbell
Greg Campbell is a well-connected lobbyist and consultant. The most recent campaign finance data shows his long list of clients include Major League Baseball, Amazon, TikTok, PG&E, DraftKings, and United Healthcare Services.
The City of Fresno said it would terminate his contract Thursday, according to the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
He has worked as senior staff for the last five Assembly Speakers including in the role of chief of staff to Speakers Toni G. Atkins and John A. Perez.
Campbell is also listed as a founder of The Collaborative with Williamson.
Alexis Podesta
Podesta’s attorney confirmed she is the unnamed co-conspirator in the court documents that lay out the allegations against Williamson. She has not been charged with any crimes as of Thursday and her attorney said she is cooperating with the investigation.
Podesta is a Sacramento-based political consultant who served as a secretary under Gov. Jerry Brown. She is also a member of the board of the state compensation fund.
She has also worked for PG&E and Disney.
She is listed as a managing director and member of The Collaborative, the group led by Campbell and Williamson.
Her attorney, Bill Portanova, told KCRA 3 The Collaborative continues to be operational and that Podesta is still a part of it.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.