SACRAMENTO, Calif (Diya TV) — The FBI has informed current and former members of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration that it intercepted their communications as part of a federal investigation. The probe centers on Newsom’s former chief of staff, Dana Williamson. Federal agents sent legal notices to several Newsom aides, alerting them that the government monitored some of their communications.
These notices are required by law when the government completes such investigations. A person inside the governor’s office confirmed the move to The San Francisco Chronicle, though the individual declined to say how many staffers received the letters or whether Newsom himself was notified. The Sacramento Bee previously reported that some lobbyists in California and Washington, D.C., received similar alerts. The disclosures come shortly after Williamson’s indictment on federal charges.
Williamson served as Newsom’s top aide between 2023 and 2024. Prosecutors say she conspired with four others to steal about $225,000 from a campaign account belonging to former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. Becerra held this account while serving as Health and Human Services Secretary under President Joe Biden.
According to the indictment, Williamson, Becerra’s former chief of staff Sean McCluskie, McCluskie’s wife, and two prominent lobbyists paid Williamson $10,000 per month from late 2022 to fall 2024. Investigators claim no services were performed. The indictment also accuses Williamson of reporting luxury purchases as business expenses on her taxes and lying to federal agents.
Last week, Williamson pleaded not guilty to all charges. She was released on $500,000 bail. Her attorney, McGregor Scott, said prosecutors had contacted him more than a year ago. They asked for Williamson’s cooperation. Scott said she refused because she “observed no wrongdoing by the governor.” He added that they intend to defend her “vigorously.”
Federal filings include many text messages and emails exchanged among the alleged conspirators. The indictment covers communications from February 2022 through July 2024. It also describes phone records, with specific dates, call durations, and even direct quotations from calls. That level of detail suggests some calls were recorded and intercepted by investigators.
One example: a May 2024 call between Williamson and McCluskie reportedly included verbatim quotes. Another was a call in August 2024 between McCluskie and political consultant Alexis Podesta. Those calls appear to have been monitored, giving prosecutors strong evidence.
The decision to notify Newsom’s current and former aides underscores the seriousness of the FBI’s investigation. Under federal law, the government must alert individuals if their communications were intercepted. The notices do not necessarily mean the recipients are guilty of wrongdoing.
Newsom and Becerra are not named in the indictment. Neither has been charged with any crime in connection with the case. Still, the disclosures raise questions about the inner workings of the governor’s office and how funds moved through political accounts.
Two other defendants have already pleaded guilty. McCluskie admitted to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud. Greg Campbell, a former high-level Capitol aide and lobbyist, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government. The indictment does not charge Podesta or McCluskie’s wife, though they are named.
Williamson’s indictment and the notification letters could provoke further political fallout for Newsom. Critics may call for more transparency or question his judgment in hiring staff. Meanwhile, the FBI’s probe adds another layer of scrutiny to the governor’s inner circle.
This case places Newsom’s administration under the spotlight. The blend of political maneuvering, alleged financial misconduct, and intercepted communications could define a key chapter in California’s political landscape. As the investigation moves forward, observers will closely watch how Newsom responds — and whether more internal communications become public.
