By admin 
The federal authorities prosecuting Dana Williamson, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s chief of staff who pleaded guilty in a federal corruption case earlier this year, have agreed to delay her sentencing to Dec. 10, according to court records.
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Williamson pleaded guilty in May to bank fraud, lying to the FBI, and filing a false tax return after prosecutors said Williamson helped former Deputy Attorney General Sean McCluskie siphon money from his boss, former attorney general and current gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra, to pad his salary after taking a pay cut to follow Becerra to Washington, D.C.
Williamson faces a maximum sentence of 38 years in prison and fines of up to $1.35 million. Her sentencing hearing has been delayed several times as she has battled health issues while recovering from a recent liver transplant surgery. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is conferring with the Bureau of Prisons to find a facility that can adequately support Williamson’s medical needs, according to court records.
Before her arrest last year, Williamson was known as a sharp-elbowed political operative who previously worked as a lobbyist for PG&E and advised Becerra, Newsom and former Gov. Jerry Brown.
In the days after the FBI raided her Carmichael home, a handful of consultants and retired state officials created an online campaign to fund her legal defense; it had raised $16,225 as of Wednesday. Dozens of lobbyists and strategists also received letters informing them that the agency had spied on them as part of its years-long investigation.
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Newsom, who is now facing his own probe, told reporters last week he had nothing to say to Williamson when asked about her impending sentencing.
“I don’t. We haven’t spoken,” he said. Williamson served as his chief of staff from late 2022 to November 2024, the same month FBI agents first questioned her about her role in the corruption scheme.
Newsom’s office put her on leave and she left the administration the following month. She received almost $63,000 after cashing out unused vacation time and other benefits.
McCluskie and lobbyist Greg Campbell also pleaded guilty to their roles in the plot, and are awaiting sentencing.
Read more Ex-Newsom aide Dana Williamson’s sentencing pushed to December