{"id":716833,"date":"2026-06-21T05:45:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-21T05:45:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/716833\/"},"modified":"2026-06-21T05:45:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-21T05:45:12","slug":"gavin-newsoms-criminal-ex-chief-of-staff-haunts-him-in-doj-investigations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/716833\/","title":{"rendered":"Gavin Newsom’s criminal ex-chief of staff haunts him in DOJ investigations"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the Department of Justice probes Gov. Gavin Newsom and his wife on multiple fronts<\/a>, a fresh scandal involving one of his closest former aides is raising new questions about the company he kept in Sacramento.<\/p>\n

Dana Williamson, who led Newsom\u2019s office as chief of staff from late 2022 to early 2025, pleaded guilty last month to a conspiracy to loot a congressional campaign account tied to Xavier Becerra<\/a> \u2014 the former Biden cabinet secretary now leading the Democratic field to replace Newsom as California governor<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But that was only part of Williamson\u2019s legal troubles. She also admitted to filing false tax returns and lying to the FBI about her official dealings involving former client Activision Blizzard \u2014 the video game giant at the center of one of California\u2019s most high-profile workplace discrimination cases.<\/p>\n

Dana Williamson pleaded guilty to multiple crimes last month. Rafael Fontoura for CA Post<\/p>\n

Gov. Gavin Newsom and his wife are the subject of multiple federal investigations. Anadolu via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Jennifer Siebel Newsom, right, has accused the feds of having \u201cno boundaries.\u201d Getty Images for Bentonville Film Festival<\/p>\n

Williamson\u2019s guilty plea<\/a> \u2014 and a highly anticipated sentencing hearing next month \u2014 has cast a glaring spotlight on Newsom, who this week accused the Trump administration of weaponizing the Justice Department<\/a> against him as he weighs a run for president in 2028.<\/p>\n

A source familiar with the federal probes told The California Post that Williamson\u2019s actions could present a particular challenge for the governor, who curiously issued a statement honoring \u201cher insight, tenacity, and big heart\u201d<\/a> despite knowing she was under FBI investigation when she left his office in late 2024.<\/p>\n

The investigation into Williamson dates back to 2022, a source told The Post, and other outlets have reported that the original investigation stemmed from whistleblower complaints<\/a> here in California. Investigators, meanwhile, have increasingly focused on Newsom\u2019s orbit over the past year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

President Trump has not commented on the investigations after calling for Newsom\u2019s arrest last year. REUTERS<\/p>\n

Newsom\u2019s office acknowledged that federal investigators examined allegations related to Activision Blizzard. Getty Images<\/p>\n

Williamson\u2019s conduct appears to be one facet of a broader inquiry that includes scrutiny of Jennifer Siebel Newsom\u2019s taxes and business arrangements<\/a> and members of the governor\u2019s staff.<\/p>\n

Neither Newsom nor his wife have been charged with any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n

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Tara Gallegos, a spokesperson for the governor, dismissed the federal inquiry Friday as a politically motivated effort to damage the governor ahead of a potential White House run.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we do know is that federal investigators have been contacting family friends, donors, former employees and associates, subpoenaing records and asking questions about the governor\u2019s finances, organizations connected to the first partner, and even deeply personal family matters,\u201d Gallegos told The Post in an email.<\/p>\n

She added that the governor\u2019s office has not been told specifically what the Justice Department is investigating and accused federal authorities of pursuing \u201cchasing ghosts and launching investigations based on conspiracy theories.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe issue isn\u2019t people or organizations,\u201d Gallegos said. \u201cThe issue is that after failing to establish wrongdoing by the governor in their original line of inquiry, investigators appear to be casting an ever-wider net in search of something they can use.\u201d<\/p>\n

Williamson is expected to be sentenced next month. Rafael Fontoura for CA Post<\/p>\n

Newsom has cast the federal probes as a political attack under the direction of President Trump. REUTERS<\/p>\n

The governor has taken exception to his wife being part of the federal investigations. Anadolu via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Gallegos also sought to distance Newsom from Williamson\u2019s criminal case, saying the feds offered her a \u201cdeal,\u201d but \u201cthe governor never committed a crime, so there was nothing for her to \u2018offer.’\u201d<\/p>\n

Legal experts say the public evidence available so far leaves open two competing possibilities: Williamson\u2019s crimes are politically embarrassing but legally irrelevant for Newsom, or investigators believe her conduct leads to broader wrongdoing.<\/p>\n

Paul DeGroot, a former chief prosecutor who oversaw public corruption cases in Passaic County, New Jersey, told The Post that federal prosecutors rarely target sitting governors unless they believe they can ultimately prove their case at trial.<\/p>\n

\u201cA federal or state prosecutor will only indict a government official, especially a high-ranking one, if the prosecutor believes they will be able to prove a crime has occurred beyond a reasonable doubt,\u201d DeGroot said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs such, you rarely see instances of a prosecutor seeking to indict a governor.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said Williamson\u2019s guilty plea puts Newsom in a difficult position because defendants facing significant prison time often cooperate with investigators.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrequently, the only realistic option an individual has to stay out of jail is to cooperate with law enforcement against others,\u201d DeGroot said.<\/p>\n

Newsom\u2019s expected run for president in 2028 could be impacted by ongoing federal investigations. REUTERS<\/p>\n

Siebel Newsom\u2019s taxes are drawing the interest of investigators, a source said. Getty Images for Bentonville Film Festival<\/p>\n

Activision Blizzard\u2019s case has drawn investigators interest after an unusual series of events involving a state lawsuit. EPA<\/p>\n

\u201cA target of an investigation should always be concerned about a cooperating witness previously in their inner circle because of the witness\u2019s desperation to avoid prison time and ability to attribute statements and actions to the target.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the same time, DeGroot added, \u201cthe best defense is a good offense.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGovernor Newsom need look no further than President Trump about how a prosecution framed as being politically motivated can actually help the defendant politician at the polls.\u201d<\/p>\n

Complicating the governor\u2019s narrative is the fact that some of the crimes at the center of Williamson\u2019s plea deal occurred during her time with the Newsom administration.<\/p>\n

In 2021, California\u2019s Department of Fair Employment and Housing \u2013 now the Civil Rights Department \u2013 sued Activision Blizzard, alleging the video game giant fostered a pervasive \u201cfrat boy\u201d culture<\/a> where women faced sexual harassment, unequal pay and retaliation.<\/p>\n

The lawsuit alleged women were steered into lower-paying roles, denied promotions and punished for pregnancy and motherhood.\u00a0<\/p>\n

One woman was allegedly told she could not be promoted because she might \u201cget pregnant and like being a mom too much,\u201d while another killed herself during a business trip with a male supervisor who had brought sex toys and lubricant.<\/p>\n

Williamson, who is dealing with a health condition, could face prison time for her crimes. David McGlynn for CA Post<\/p>\n

The state\u2019s chief counsel Janette Wipper was fired after raising concerns about political interference, while her deputy, Melanie Proctor, resigned and alleged the governor\u2019s office was \u201cmimicking the interests of Activision\u2019s counsel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Newsom\u2019s office denied the allegations.<\/p>\n

The controversy intensified after Activision board member Casey Wasserman \u2014 the media mogul and chair of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles \u2014 donated $100,000 to Newsom\u2019s anti-recall campaign<\/a> weeks after the lawsuit was filed.<\/p>\n

Gallegos confirmed to The Post that federal investigators have spent time examining allegations related to Activision Blizzard, but she said nothing was found and any suggestion that Newsom or the office \u201ctilted the outcome of a case to benefit Activision is absurd on its face.\u201d<\/p>\n

She noted that Activision\u2019s then-CEO, Bobby Kotick<\/a>, \u201cspent years opposing the governor politically,\u201d donating roughly $1 million to campaigns against Newsom.<\/p>\n

\u201cInstead of closing the book, investigators appear to have moved on to the next conspiracy theories in search of something they can use,\u201d Gallegos said. \u201cThat\u2019s the pattern we\u2019re seeing throughout this investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n

California eventually agreed to a $54 million settlement with Activision Blizzard<\/a> in late 2023 \u2014 but not before dramatically scaling back its blockbuster case.<\/p>\n

As part of the deal, the state dropped its sexual harassment claim. The consent decree also acknowledged that neither a court nor an independent investigation found evidence of systemic or widespread sexual harassment at the gaming giant.<\/p>\n

An FBI wiretap in June 2024 would document how Williamson planned to quash a public records request from Proctor seeking to bring details around the Activision case to light. Williamson was placed on leave months later after informing the governor\u2019s office she was under federal investigation.<\/p>\n

Her attorney, former US Attorney McGregor Scott, has characterized the broader probe as politically motivated and said Williamson declined to provide investigators with information about Newsom because she had none to offer. Scott did not respond to request for comment Friday.<\/p>\n

Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Law School, said the evidence made public so far does not establish criminal liability for the governor.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt this point,\u201d Levinson said, \u201cI can\u2019t tell whether this is merely embarrassing for him because he employed somebody who engaged in federal criminal behavior, or whether there\u2019s more of a connection than anybody knows about.\u201d<\/p>\n

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