The FBI had a mole in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s political orbit before the agency’s investigation expanded to include the governor and his wife, The Post has learned.
Williamson’s lawyer said Democratic insider Alexis Podesta, 45, secretly recorded conversations during a criminal investigation into Newsom’s then-chief of staff, Dana Williamson, 53, who pleaded guilty in May to federal fraud and tax charges.
McGregor Scott (left) and Dana Williamson pleaded guilty in May at the federal courthouse in Sacramento. Rafael Fontoura for CA Post
Alexis Podesta is playing with the feds while continuing to receive money from the government. California Senate
The discovery that she was wearing a wire as early as June 2024 explains why a number of Sacramento political insiders and lobbyists were stunned to receive FBI letters last fall saying their phone calls had been intercepted as part of the investigation—even though many of them had little or nothing to do with Williamson.
“Alexis was wearing a wire and Dana was not,” said McGregor Scott, Williamson’s lawyer and the former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of California who is now prosecuting the Newsoms.
The news came to light last month when Newsom announced that he and his wife, whose nonprofit had spent money in recent years, and members of the governor’s inner circle were under federal investigation.
Within hours of the announcement, Newsom sent out an email asking to raise money for a political action committee.
Subscribe to the California Morning Report newsletter
The best California news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.
Thanks for registering!
Assemblyman Josh Hoover (R-Folsom) told The Post that he was among those who received one of the letters, although he never spoke with Williamson or Podesta.
“Many people received letters essentially informing us that there were certain periods of time when the FBI had access to monitor telephone calls,” Hoover said.
“I don’t know how these investigations work, but it looks like they’ve cast a pretty wide net among the Capitol community to see what they can find.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom has used federal investigations into him and his wife as a fundraising opportunity. David Buchan for Ca Post
Williamson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, filing a false tax return and lying to the FBI. David McGlynn for CA Post
Newsom used the federal investigation into him and his wife as a fundraising opportunity. AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
A separate source familiar with the matter said they knew of four Sacramento insiders who also received FBI notices confirming they had been recorded.
One recipient told a source: “Dude, I got this damn letter. I’ve never even met Dana Williamson!”
“Their curiosity was that they had never even met Dana Williamson, so they were wondering what it was all about,” the source said.
“And now you have the answer.”
Williamson never wore a wire during the FBI investigation, her lawyer said. Rafael Fontoura for CA Post
The governor publicly accused President Trump of directing the Justice Department to investigate him as political retaliation ahead of a possible 2028 presidential campaign.
Trump previously called for Newsom’s arrest.
But sources familiar with the matter told The Post that federal investigators have spent the past year looking not only at Newsom, but also his employees and his wife’s taxes, prompting Siebel Newsom to accuse Trump of having “no boundaries.”
Whistleblowers reportedly alerted the feds to an investigation into Newsom, and Williamson’s lawyer told The Post that his client refused to cooperate because she had no information about Newsom.
Download the California Post app, follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletters.
California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn
California Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X
California Post Opinion
California Post Newsletters: Register here!
California Post Application: Download here!
Home delivery: Register here!
Page six Hollywood: Register here!
Podesta, a longtime Democratic Party powerbroker, remains on the board of directors of the California Compensation Insurance Fund, where she receives an annual compensation of nearly $61,000, after Newsom appointed her in January 2020.
She previously served as Secretary of the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency and held leadership positions in the administration of Governor Jerry Brown.
She also worked for PG&E, Disney and the late Senator Dianne Feinstein.
Podesta received an appointment to the state board from Newsom in 2020. California Department of Consumer Affairs
Podesta has not been charged with a crime, but her lawyer, Bill Portanova, identified her as the unindicted co-conspirator described in Williamson’s indictment and confirmed that she was cooperating with federal investigators.
The governor’s office declined The Post’s request to comment on the circumstances surrounding Podesta, saying it was a personnel matter.
Podesta and her lawyer did not respond to requests for comment.
Newsom accused President Trump of weaponizing the justice system. David Buchan for Ca Post
Williamson pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, filing a false tax return and making false statements to the FBI.
Federal prosecutors alleged that Williamson and others orchestrated a scheme to siphon off approximately $225,000 from a dormant campaign account belonging to former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, who is now the Democratic leader to succeed Newsom as governor.
Williamson disguised the payments as legitimate consulting fees, funneling the money to Becerra’s former chief of staff, Sean McCluskey.
Williamson’s case is still before the court before her sentencing. AP Photo/Sophie Austin
Podesta’s lawyer said she inherited responsibility for overseeing Becerra’s dormant campaign account after Williamson left private consulting to become Newsom’s chief of staff in late 2022 and was unaware the payments were improper. Campaign finance reports show Becerra’s committee paid Podesta mostly monthly payments of $10,000 during 2023 and 2024.
According to court documents, Williamson, while Newsom’s chief of staff, shared confidential state government information with an associate, since identified as Podesta, regarding a corporate client identified in reports as Activision Blizzard.
Williamson’s plea agreement says she was caught on wiretaps in June 2024 discussing with an accomplice how to respond to a Public Records Act request related to the state’s litigation against the company. According to court records, Williamson and Podesta exchanged text messages about the matter. Podesta has not publicly commented on the matter.
A spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office, which has charged Williamson and is investigating the governor, declined to comment Thursday.
Hoover said the growing investigation has only deepened public skepticism about Newsom and the way the governor’s office handles business.
“All this raises a lot of questions,” he said. “What’s going on in this administration? What conversations are being had? I think this whole thing should really be of concern to the general public. It’s really causing a lot of mistrust.”
He added: “I think it highlights how problematic the current administration is. (Newsom) is someone who wants to run for president of the United States. It’s very unfortunate to see that this is the level of our politics.”