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Inside the Indictment: A Web of Fraud and Deception
Dana Williamson—Gavin Newsom’s former chief of staff and a veteran Democratic political consultant—was arrested by the FBI this morning. The 53-year-old faces a 23-count federal indictment unsealed today in the Eastern District of California. Prosecutors say she led a years-long scheme to divert more than $225,000 from a dormant Democratic campaign fund, then covered her tracks with backdated contracts and false statements to investigators.
Williamson left the governor’s office in December 2024 under what Newsom’s team called “unrelated issues.” Now she stands accused of bank fraud, wire fraud, obstruction of justice, and filing more than $1.7 million in fraudulent business deductions—everything from a $15,353 Chanel handbag to a $21,175 private jet charter, luxury resort stays in Mexico, and home upgrades.
This is the hard news in a summary form. Below the paywall is a LOT more. A lot of the nitty-gritty details from the federal indictments, and analysis of what this might mean. And, of course, a link to the indictment itself (crazy reading).
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