Health problem could delay sentencing for Gov. Newsom’s ex-chief of staff
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Dana Williamson, a former top political aide to key Democratic leaders in California, including Gov. Newsom, is recovering from what appears to be an unplanned surgery and court records show her attorney is asking a federal court to delay her sentencing.
Williamson pled guilty in May to three federal charges including conspiring to commit bank and wire fraud, filing a false tax return, and lying to investigators as part of a plea agreement she struck with the U.S. Attorney’s Office based in Sacramento. Federal prosecutors and Williamson’s attorney, McGregor Scott, agreed to schedule her sentencing on Sept. 17. That is when the court is expected to announce how much time she serves in prison and how much she needs to pay in fines.
Court records show Scott last week filed a motion to delay the sentencing along with a request to seal several sensitive, health-related documents. Chief U.S. District Judge Troy Nunnelly approved the sealing of the documents this week.
Scott filed the request on Sept. 3, the same day Sutter Health issued a medical record related to Williamson, court records show. The medical record is one of several documents that are now sealed. Other sealed records show Williamson had surgery the following day on Sept. 4. Sealed records from that day are described as a text message related to the surgery from Williamson’s mother along with another medical record from Sutter Health following the surgery.
“Defendant makes this request because portions of the Amended Motion to Continue Sentencing and the Amended Declaration of McGregor Scott contain highly confidential information and documents that would harm Ms. Williamson and non-parties if publicly disclosed,” Scott wrote in the request to shield the documents.
Scott noted the records include potentially invasive medical information concerning Williamson’s health including conditions, symptoms and diagnoses. Williamson had a liver transplant earlier this year. It was not immediately clear if the medical issue is related.
It was not clear as of Wednesday night when Williamson’s sentencing would be if it is delayed. Federal prosecutors had not yet filed a response to the request to delay sentencing as of Wednesday night. Scott declined to comment.
Williamson was indicted in November 2025 for her role in organizing a scheme to funnel $225,000 from an inactive political campaign account belonging to Xavier Becerra. Becerra was a former California attorney general and the former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary under President Joe Biden, and he is now running to become California’s next governor. Williamson’s conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud charge stems from that situation. Williamson also lied to the FBI when asked about the diversion of campaign funds, the U.S. DOJ said.
Williamson had been and advisor to Becerra and helped funnel the stolen money to Becerra’s ex-chief of staff, Sean McCluskie. McCluskie’s sentencing is scheduled in October.
Separately from that investigation, the U.S. Department of Justice said Williamson, from 2021 to 2023, claimed about $1.7 million in business deductions for what were actually lavish personal expenses. Those include vacations, private jet travel, wages for family and other services. As part of her plea deal, Williamson agreed to pay back to the IRS the estimated $504,000 in lost tax revenue and faces the false taxes charge.
The three charges Williamson has pled guilty to are felonies.
Williamson’s plea agreement said the maximum sentence for the bank fraud charge is 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Scott said in May he expected it to be no more than three years based on federal sentencing guidelines. He planned to argue for less.
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