Lobbyist, former Becerra chief of staff plead to conspiracy

California lobbyist Greg Campbell and Sean McCluskie, a former chief of staff to then-state Attorney General Xavier Becerra, have pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges after admitting they helped steal about $225,000 from a dormant political campaign account to fund McCluskie's personal expenses, disguising the money as payments for a no-show job for his spouse.

Federal prosecutors say that between 2022 and 2024, Campbell, McCluskie, and consultant Dana Williamson also created fake retroactive contracts to mislead investigators probing Williamson's ineligible PPP loans.

Williamson, who faces a separate 23-count indictment, is accused of fraud, tax offenses, and obstruction but remains presumed innocent. Williamson is former chief of staff to Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The FBI and IRS are investigating, and Campbell and McCluskie face up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines per conspiracy count when they are sentenced in February 2026.

The indictment alleges that the group funneled money from dormant campaign accounts belonging to an unnamed public official that McCluskie worked for, first through Williamson and later through an unnamed co-conspirator, to a company owned by Campbell. Campbell would pass the money on to McCluskie in the form of payments to his spouse for work his spouse didn't perform.

The Department of Justice did not mention Becerra by name. McCluskie served as his chief of staff as attorney general and later when Becerra became Health and Human Services secretary in the Biden administration.

Becerra, who recently announced a run for governor, could not be reached for comment.

Campbell entered his plea Thursday while McCluskie entered his plea Nov. 20, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney's office.

Campbell's lawyer, Todd A. Pickles of Greenberg Traurig LLP, wouldn't say whether his client is cooperating with prosecutors as part of the plea deal but did provide the Daily Journal with a statement on behalf of his client.

"Today Greg Campbell accepted full responsibility for his actions," the statement said. "Although neither Mr. Campbell nor his lobbying firm received any benefit, financial or otherwise, from the conduct to which he has pleaded guilty, he accepts the consequences of his actions."

McCluskie's lawyer, Daniel B. Olmos of Nolan Barton Olmos and Luciano LLP, was unable to respond by press time to the Daily Journal's questions about whether his client would cooperate with prosecutors.

The Daily Journal reached out to the phone number listed on Becerra's campaign documents, which led to Washington, D.C. campaign finance advisory firm MBA Consulting Group. The group didn't respond to a request for comment or pass along direct contact information to Becerra's campaign. Becerra's State Bar page contains no contact information and lists him as Health and Human Services secretary.

McCluskie and Campbell face up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each count, according to the U.S. attorney's office. Sentencing will take place on Feb. 26.

Williamson is also accused of influencing state litigation against an unnamed company that she had done work for in the past. Several news entities reported that Williamson told the unnamed co-conspirator, who was contracted with the company at the time, that she would have the suit settled and later that she expected the state employee overseeing the case to be fired.

Several reports have linked that description to the state's $55 million settlement in 2024 with Activision Blizzard Inc., a former client of Williamson's which the state sued for sex discrimination. Department of Fair Employment and Housing chief counsel Janette Wipper was fired in 2022 during proceedings but before Williamson joined Newsom's staff.

U.S. Attorney's Office spokeswoman Lauren Horwood declined to say whether McCluskie and Campbell will cooperate with prosecutors in their case against Williamson as part of the plea deal, citing office policy.

Asked for comment on the situation, a spokesperson for Newsom's office, Izzy Gardon, said in an email that the governor is "not involved" in the case.

If convicted, Williamson could face sentences of up to 30 years for bank fraud, 20 years for wire fraud, five years for making false statements and conspiracy to obstruct, and three years for a false tax return. Her next court date is Dec. 12.

The case is being tried in federal district court before Chief Judge Troy L. Nunley in Sacramento.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Anderson, Rosanne Rust and Katherine T. Lydon are prosecuting the case, along with Public Integrity Section Trial Attorney Alexandre Dempsey.

*Associate Editor Laurinda Keys contributed to this article. *