{"id":287244,"date":"2026-04-26T21:13:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T21:13:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/287244\/"},"modified":"2026-04-26T21:13:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T21:13:19","slug":"california-governor-candidate-xavier-becerra-squirms-as-hes-grilled-on-missing-millions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/287244\/","title":{"rendered":"California governor candidate Xavier Becerra squirms as he’s grilled on missing millions"},"content":{"rendered":"

California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra has been trying to swat down his ties to an alleged fraud<\/a> case, as he seemingly struggles to answer the questions it poses about his financial stewardship.<\/p>\n

In an interview with KCRA<\/a> published Sunday, the former Health and Human Services chief gave a long-winded answer when asked how he would ensure taxpayers wouldn\u2019t be swindled with their money as governor.<\/p>\n

The Democratic candidate<\/a>, who Gavin Newsom\u2019s team reportedly favor<\/a>, went on at least a minute-long ramble about his track record at HHS and as a state attorney general, but his answer didn\u2019t touch upon fiscal responsibility.<\/p>\n

\"XavierCalifornia gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra has been trying to swat down his ties to an alleged fraud case, as he seemingly struggles to answer the questions it poses about his financial stewardship.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen it came time to COVID, take a look at how we were able to get those vaccines \u2014 700 million of those vaccines by the time we were able to finish our four years in tenure,\u201d he said. \u201cNever once did we have to ask Americans to pay one penny.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTake a look at the work I did to protect our state at a time when Donald Trump was president the first time and was coming at our state,\u201d he added about his time as attorney general.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf people want to see what I do, how I do it, whether I can be accountable, I\u2019d say, take a look at that record,\u201d he ended his answer with.<\/p>\n

Part of his record, however, includes allegations that Gov. Gavin Newsom\u2019s former chief of staff Dana Williamson plotted with lobbyist Greg Campbell and longtime Becerra aide Sean McCluskie to siphon $225,000 from Becerra\u2019s dormant campaign account for personal use between February 2022 and September 2024.<\/p>\n

While McCluskie was Becerra\u2019s chief of staff, Williamson \u2014 who also worked on Becerra\u2019s 2018 campaign for attorney general \u2014 allegedly funneled $10,000 per month.<\/p>\n

\"Ashley
\nThe Democratic candidate, who Gavin Newsom\u2019s team reportedly favor, went on at least a minute-long ramble about his track record at HHS and as a state attorney general, but his answer didn\u2019t touch upon fiscal responsibility. KCRA 3<\/p>\n

The funds were routed through multiple business entities and falsely labeled as pay for a \u201cno-show\u201d job that didn\u2019t exist.<\/p>\n

She pleaded not guilty, while\u00a0Campbell and McCluskie pleaded guilty<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Becerra reiterated in the interview that he was misled; finding out about what happened was a \u201cgut punch.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked why the $10,000 payments did not raise red flags, the candidate said multiple campaign lawyers did not raise issues with him.<\/p>\n

He distanced himself from overseeing the account as he had to retain an image of political neutrality as HHS chief, he explained.<\/p>\n

The payments were legal, he noted, just not what was done afterward with the money.<\/p>\n

The candidate has come under fire by other candidates<\/a> for ties to the case. In another interview with CNN, when asked what it says about his judgment to trust McCluskie, he acknowledged, \u201cPeople make mistakes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Becerra had been trailing in the single digits in polls, but after former congressman Eric Swalwell left the race from sexual assault allegations, he has surged to become one of the leading Democrats.<\/p>\n

Allies of Newsom have reportedly eyed Becerra<\/a> as someone to rally around. <\/p>\n

When Becerra was asked by KCRA Sunday <\/a>to grade Newsom\u2019s tenure overall, he said \u201cI don\u2019t know if I can give him a grade\u201d a minute after promising he was going to grade him. During a debate last Wednesday<\/a>, he gave Newsom an \u201cA\u201d on tackling homelessness.<\/p>\n

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