When federal prosecutors dropped a 23-count indictment on Gavin Newsom’s former chief of workers Dana Williamson, Sacramento didn’t scatter, it closed ranks.
A SpotFund donation popped as much as jump-start Williamson’s authorized protection Monday. The fundraiser was no abnormal crowdfunding enchantment, sitting at a $100,000 marketing campaign purpose. The hassle instantly drew donations from Sacramento insiders, lobbyists and former state officers.
The SpotFund web page for Williamson — who collected almost $313,000 in state wage and advantages in 2024 as Newsom’s govt secretary — was launched by Steve Maviglio, arguably some of the related operatives in California politics.
A former New Hampshire legislator, Maviglio served as press secretary to Gov. Grey Davis, deputy chief of workers to then Meeting Audio system Fabian Núñez and Karen Bass, who now serves because the mayor of Los Angeles, and helped defeat Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “12 months of reform” poll measures.
“From the second information broke about our buddy Dana, she’s acquired an outpouring of help from associates, household and colleagues throughout the nation,” the web page says. “Your type messages — fueled by collective outrage and fierce loyalty — have been invaluable as she fights the authorized battle of her life.”
The primary $1,000 donation got here from Mark Krausse, appointed by Newsom in 2024 to the Public Employment Relations Board, a six-year put up paying $168,000. “We love you, Dana! Something we are able to do to assist! Krausse household,” he wrote.
Krausse beforehand spent 17 years as a Pacific Gasoline & Electrical lobbyist.
Different early donations embrace $1,000 from an nameless donor, $500 from lobbyists Vicki and Christy Barr-Bouma, $250 from former Public Utilities Fee President Michael Picker. The fundraiser seeks $100,000.
Williamson was indicted in early November on 23 federal counts alleging she stole $225,000 in marketing campaign funds and claimed greater than $1 million in private bills, together with personal jet journey, luxurious clothes and residential furnishings, as enterprise deductions on false tax returns.
In keeping with courtroom paperwork, between February 2022 and September 2024, Williamson conspired with others to divert roughly $225,000 in funds from a dormant political marketing campaign.
Prosecutors say she funneled cash from a dormant congressional marketing campaign right into a no-show job and fabricated backdated contracts after receiving a subpoena over her COVID-era PPP mortgage.
Williamson has entered a not responsible plea.
Among the many Capitol’s energy gamers, Williamson has stood close to the highest, working for 3 governors, lobbying for varied curiosity teams and working poll measure campaigns.
Williamson faces as much as 20 years in jail and $250,000 fines on every financial institution and wire fraud depend, together with extra penalties for conspiracy, obstruction and submitting false tax returns.
“The FBI will stay vigilant in its efforts to uncover fraud and corruption, making certain our authorities programs are held to the very best requirements,” FBI Sacramento Particular Agent in Cost Sid Patel stated in saying the costs.
“Disguising private luxuries as enterprise bills… is a critical felony offense with extreme penalties,” stated IRS Legal Investigation Oakland Subject Workplace Particular Agent in Cost Linda Nguyen.
The case stems from a multiyear FBI and IRS investigation led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Anderson, Rosanne Rust and Katherine T. Lydon, and Public Integrity Part Trial Legal professional Alexandre Dempsey.
