A Democrat insider who reportedly secretly wore an FBI wire to assist take down Gavin Newsom’s chief of workers is now a legal responsibility for Xavier Becerra, the Democratic frontrunner to grow to be California’s subsequent governor.
The California Publish has realized Alexis Podesta, an informant in a sweeping public corruption case, is now the topic of a number of investigations by California’s political watchdog the Truthful Political Practices Fee — together with one involving considered one of Becerra’s political committees.
Podesta, 45, can be being investigated over an allegation she did not disclose greater than $1 million in lobbying revenue.
The investigations are elevating new questions in regards to the FBI’s star cooperating witness and whether or not the scrutiny might grow to be a distraction for Becerra’s gubernatorial marketing campaign.
The legal professional for Dana Williamson, Newsom’s disgraced former chief of workers, advised The Publish Podesta secretly wore an the wire throughout an expansive public corruption investigation.
Williamson was Podesta’s longtime mentor who pleaded responsible to federal tax and wire fraud expenses in Could.
Williamson handed a lot of her political consulting enterprise to Podesta after becoming a member of Newsom’s administration in late 2022, together with work on Becerra’s political campaigns.
Marketing campaign data reveal Becerra maintained a political committee for a possible marketing campaign for state superintendent of public instruction in 2030.
The Podesta Firm was paid at the very least $170,000 in 2023 and 2024 for marketing campaign consulting. On the time, Becerra was serving in Joe Biden’s cupboard as secretary of Well being and Human Companies.
The funds present how carefully Podesta remained tied to Becerra’s political operation, with Williamson entrusting her with the quite a few consulting accounts she had managed earlier than becoming a member of Newsom’s administration in January, 2023.
In response to federal prosecutors, Williamson directed dormant marketing campaign committees to ship roughly $10,000 a month to The Podesta Firm underneath the guise of marketing campaign consulting.
Prosecutors allege Podesta’s agency then routed the cash by an organization managed by Greg Campbell, one other lobbyist, earlier than it was in the end paid to the partner of longtime Becerra political guide, Sean McCluskie, for work prosecutors say was by no means carried out.
After Williamson was indicted final November, the FPPC initiated an investigation involving Becerra’s political committee, Podesta, Williamson, Campbell, McCluskie and political guide Robert Herrera.
Campbell and McCluskie have additionally pleaded responsible to associated federal corruption expenses.
Podesta can be the topic of two further FPPC issues. One was opened after her legal professional self-reported potential disclosure violations.
The opposite alleges she did not correctly disclose sources of greater than $1 million in lobbying revenue on required monetary disclosure varieties.
“She listed her firm, The Podesta Firm, of which she is the only real proprietor,” the latest grievance states.
“Nevertheless, she did not report the quite a few particular pursuits and firms which have supplied her with in extra of $1 million in revenue to this firm.”
Property data reviewed by The Publish present Podesta — who lives in Carmichael together with her husband, Joshua — additionally bought a $1.85 million coastal dwelling by Bodega Bay in September 2025 earlier than promoting it lower than 9 months later for greater than $2 million.
The four-bedroom dwelling was listed in April and the sale closed June 1, in keeping with Marin County data.
Podesta and her attorneys didn’t reply to requests for remark about her function within the FBI investigation, the state ethics investigations or the FPPC allegations.
The revelations of the state ethics investigations comes simply someday after Williamson’s legal professional revealed solely to The Publish that Podesta secretly wore a recording machine for the FBI throughout the corruption, which has surprised California’s Democratic political institution.
“As somebody who labored effectively with each of them for a very long time, this complete state of affairs is unimaginable to me,” Democratic political guide Steve Maviglio advised The Publish, noting the pair have labored side-by-side for years.
Podesta, 45, spent many years constructing a repute as considered one of Sacramento’s most influential political operatives earlier than launching The Podesta Firm in 2020 after serving in senior positions underneath former Gov. Jerry Brown.
Regardless of Podesta’s cooperation with federal investigators and the pending FPPC investigations, she stays on the board of the State Compensation Insurance coverage Fund, the place Newsom appointed her in 2020.
She receives almost $61,000 in annual compensation.
In the meantime, the governor’s workplace forcefully rejected any suggestion that Podesta’s cooperation with the FBI had something to do with the Justice Division’s separate investigations into Newsom and first associate Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
“There isn’t any proof that the alleged use of a wire on one of many FBI’s informants is in any means related to the governor,” Newsom spokeswoman Tara Gallegos stated in an e mail to The Publish.
“That investigation had nothing to do with the governor. The costs towards Ms. Williamson needed to do with conduct from earlier than she labored for the governor.”
Courtroom data from Williamson’s indictment and plea deal notice that she mentioned official state enterprise with Podesta, together with a controversial lawsuit involving online game firm Activision Blizzard.
Gallegos additionally accused the Justice Division of conducting “a lawless fishing expedition” at President Trump’s route.
Maviglio stated any effort by Newsom’s administration to take away Podesta from her state board place might create its personal political issues.
“She’s nonetheless underneath investigation, that’s the largest problem,” Maviglio stated.
“In the event that they fireplace her, that may be a nasty search for the administration. It will appear to be they don’t like her as a result of she has info on them, which can or is probably not true.”
Becerra has not been accused of wrongdoing within the corruption probe, however his lack of expertise of the crimes involving his marketing campaign committees has raised considerations as he seeks the best workplace in California.
His marketing campaign declined The Publish’s request for touch upon his relationship with Podesta.
