AND KCRA.COM. TWO MEN CHARGED IN A SCHEME TO STEAL CAMPAIGN FUNDS FROM AN ACCOUNT FOR XAVIER BECERRA FACED A FEDERAL JUDGE TODAY. GREG CAMPBELL AND SEAN MCCLUSKEY ARE LISTED AS COCONSPIRATORS FACING FEDERAL CONSPIRACY CHARGES. KCRA 3’S MARICELA DE LA CRUZ WAS IN THE COURTROOM TODAY. WHAT HAPPENED IN COURT? MARICELA. YEAH. LISA, WHAT HAPPENED TODAY IN COURT WAS THE NEXT STEP IN THEIR CASES. BOTH MEN PLED NOT GUILTY. BUT AS WE’VE REPORTED, THEY HAVE BOTH SIGNED PLEA AGREEMENTS WITH THE U.S. ATTORNEY. NOW, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE’VE SEEN THESE MEN SINCE THE ARREST OF FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF TO GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM, ALSO A COCONSPIRATOR IN THIS CASE. NOW, THEIR TIME IN THE COURTROOM WAS PRETTY QUICK. GREG CAMPBELL, LONGTIME POLITICAL OPERATIVE, IS FACING TWO FEDERAL CONSPIRACY CHARGES, WHILE SEAN MCCLUSKEY, WHO WAS THE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR XAVIER BECERRA, IS FACING ONE CONSPIRACY CHARGE. TODAY, BOTH MEN WAIVED THEIR RIGHT TO A GRAND JURY INDICTMENT AND THEY WERE RELEASED WITH SEVERAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SURRENDERING THEIR PASSPORTS, NO CONTACT WITH COCONSPIRATORS OR WITH WITNESSES OR ANYONE TIED TO RELATED CASES. OUR CREW TRIED SPEAKING WITH BOTH MEN. ONLY GREG CAMPBELL’S ATTORNEY MADE A COMMENT. I KNOW GREG CAMPBELL TO BE AN HONORABLE FORMER PUBLIC SERVANT, A RESPECTED AND POSITIVE MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY WHO HAS HANDLED HIMSELF WITH GREAT INTEGRITY, INTEGRITY DURING THESE DEEPLY TROUBLING TIMES. MR. CAMPBELL TAKES FULL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR HIS ACTIONS AND IS COOPERATING FULLY WITH THE LEGAL PROCESS. BECAUSE THE CASE IS ONGOING, MR. CAMPBELL DOES NOT INTEND TO MAKE ANY FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME. NOW, BOTH MEN WILL BE IN COURT AGAIN ON SEPARATE DATES FOR A CHANGE OF PLEA HEARING, WHERE THEY ARE EXPECTED TO PLEAD GUILTY. NOW THERE, THE JUDGE WILL THEN SIGN OFF ON THIS PLEA DEAL. WE’RE LIVE IN DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO. MARICELA DE LA CRUZ KCRA THREE NEWS. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND MCCLUSKEY AND CAMPBELL BOTH HAVE TIES TO THE GOVERNOR’S FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF, DANA WILLIAMSON. SHE’S ACCUSED OF CONSPIRING TO STEAL $225,000 FROM A DORMANT POLITICAL CAMPAIGN BELONGING TO FORMER HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY XAVIER BECERRA. WILLIAMSON IS FACING 23 COUNTS, INCLUDING FRAUD, CONSPIRACY, OBSTRUCTION O
Two men charged in California campaign fund theft scheme appear in federal court
Updated: 4:54 PM PST Nov 14, 2025
Two men charged as conspirators in a scheme to steal campaign funds from an account for former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra appeared before a federal judge in Sacramento on Friday. Greg Campbell and Sean McCluskie pleaded not guilty and waived their right to a grand jury indictment.Both men have signed plea agreements with the U.S. Attorney, and this marks the first time they have been seen since the arrest of Dana Williamson, the former chief of staff to Governor Newsom, who is also a co-conspirator in the case. Campbell, a longtime political operative, faces two federal conspiracy charges, while McCluskie, who served as chief of staff for Becerra, faces one conspiracy charge. During their brief courtroom appearance, both men were released under several conditions, including surrendering their passports and avoiding contact with co-conspirators, witnesses, or anyone tied to related cases.Greg Campbell’s attorney, Todd Pickles, said Campbell is cooperating with the investigation.”I know Greg Campbell to be an honorable former public servant, a respected and positive member of the community who has handled himself with great integrity during these deeply troubling times,” Pickles said. “Mr. Campbell takes full accountability for his actions and is cooperating fully with the legal process. Because the case is ongoing, Mr. Campbell does not intend to make any further public comments at this time.”Friday’s hearing is the first step in their cases. Both men are scheduled to return to court on separate dates for a change of plea hearing, where they are expected to plead guilty. The judge would then sign off on the plea deal.McCluskie and Campbell both have ties to Williamson, who is accused of conspiring to steal $225,000 from a dormant political campaign belonging to Becerra. Williamson faces 23 total counts, including fraud, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and making false statements. She has pleaded not guilty.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Two men charged as conspirators in a scheme to steal campaign funds from an account for former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra appeared before a federal judge in Sacramento on Friday.
Greg Campbell and Sean McCluskie pleaded not guilty and waived their right to a grand jury indictment.
Both men have signed plea agreements with the U.S. Attorney, and this marks the first time they have been seen since the arrest of Dana Williamson, the former chief of staff to Governor Newsom, who is also a co-conspirator in the case.
Campbell, a longtime political operative, faces two federal conspiracy charges, while McCluskie, who served as chief of staff for Becerra, faces one conspiracy charge.
During their brief courtroom appearance, both men were released under several conditions, including surrendering their passports and avoiding contact with co-conspirators, witnesses, or anyone tied to related cases.
Greg Campbell’s attorney, Todd Pickles, said Campbell is cooperating with the investigation.
“I know Greg Campbell to be an honorable former public servant, a respected and positive member of the community who has handled himself with great integrity during these deeply troubling times,” Pickles said. “Mr. Campbell takes full accountability for his actions and is cooperating fully with the legal process. Because the case is ongoing, Mr. Campbell does not intend to make any further public comments at this time.”
Friday’s hearing is the first step in their cases. Both men are scheduled to return to court on separate dates for a change of plea hearing, where they are expected to plead guilty. The judge would then sign off on the plea deal.
McCluskie and Campbell both have ties to Williamson, who is accused of conspiring to steal $225,000 from a dormant political campaign belonging to Becerra. Williamson faces 23 total counts, including fraud, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and making false statements. She has pleaded not guilty.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel