When federal prosecutors dropped a 23-count indictment on Gavin Newsom’s former chief of employees 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 atypical crowdfunding attraction, sitting at a $100,000 marketing campaign objective. The hassle instantly drew donations from Sacramento insiders, lobbyists and former state officers.
The SpotFund web page for Williamson — who collected practically $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 employees 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 assist from buddies, household and colleagues throughout the nation,” the web page says. “Your form 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 submit paying $168,000. “We love you, Dana! Something we will do to assist! Krausse household,” he wrote.
Krausse beforehand spent 17 years as a Pacific Gasoline & Electrical lobbyist.
Different early donations embody $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 response to 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 numerous 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 further penalties for conspiracy, obstruction and submitting false tax returns.
“The FBI will stay vigilant in its efforts to uncover fraud and corruption, guaranteeing our authorities programs are held to the best requirements,” FBI Sacramento Particular Agent in Cost Sid Patel mentioned in asserting the costs.
“Disguising private luxuries as enterprise bills… is a critical prison offense with extreme penalties,” mentioned IRS Legal Investigation Oakland Area 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.
