The FBI utilized a close associate of California Governor Gavin Newsom, Alexis Podesta, to wear a wire and record conversations as part of the federal corruption probe that has since expanded to scrutinize Newsom and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom. McGregor Scott, an attorney for Dana Williamson, Newsom's former chief of staff who pleaded guilty to federal fraud and tax charges in May, confirmed that Podesta was cooperating with investigators.
"Alexis wore a wire, and Dana did not," Scott told The Post. The revelation helps explain why many Sacramento political insiders and lobbyists received letters from the FBI last fall informing them that their phone calls had been intercepted, even if they had minimal or no connection to Williamson.
Williamson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, filing a false tax return, and lying to the FBI. Prosecutors alleged Williamson and others diverted approximately $225,000 from a campaign account of former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. The funds were reportedly disguised as consulting fees and routed to benefit Sean McCluskie, Becerra's former chief of staff.
Podesta, a longtime Democratic operative and appointee to the State Compensation Insurance Fund board, has not been charged but her attorney acknowledged her cooperation with federal investigators. Court filings indicate Williamson shared confidential state government information with Podesta, identified as a co-conspirator, concerning a corporate client, which reports have identified as Activision Blizzard. Williamson was reportedly captured in a June wiretap strategizing with Podesta on how to respond to a public records request related to the state's litigation against the company. Campaign finance records show Becerra's committee made monthly payments to Podesta Company throughout 2023 and 2024.
Governor Newsom publicly accused President Trump of directing the Justice Department to investigate him as political retaliation. However, sources familiar with the matter indicated that federal investigators have spent the past year examining Newsom, his staff, and his wife's financial dealings. Assemblymember Josh Hoover (R-Folsom) stated he received a letter indicating his calls were monitored, despite never having spoken with Williamson or Podesta, suggesting the investigation cast a wide net across the Capitol community.