Federal investigators built part of their corruption case against a former top Newsom administration official using an insider who secretly recorded conversations, a defense attorney has now confirmed.
The insider, Democratic political operative Alexis Podesta, had been feeding information to the FBI since at least June 2024, according to attorney McGregor Scott, who represents former chief of staff Dana Williamson, the New York Post reported.
Scott drew a sharp line between his client and the informant when describing their roles. “Alexis wore a wire, and Dana did not,” he said.
Williamson’s own legal troubles came to a head in May, when she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, filing a false tax return, and making false statements to the FBI.
At the center of her case sits an alleged scheme to siphon approximately $225,000 out of a dormant campaign account belonging to former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.
Federal prosecutors contend the diverted funds were dressed up as consulting fees, with the money ultimately flowing to Becerra’s former chief of staff, Sean McCluskie.
For months, the reason behind a strange wave of FBI notifications sent to Sacramento power players remained unclear. Now the wiretap admission offers an explanation.
Last fall, numerous lobbyists and elected officials across the Capitol received letters alerting them that federal agents had monitored periods of their phone activity.
Josh Hoover, a Republican Assemblymember, was one of those who received such a letter. He described the notification process in blunt terms.
“A lot of people received letters essentially informing us that there were certain periods of time where the FBI was given access to follow phone calls,” Hoover said.
He admitted he could not fully explain the scope of the surveillance but suggested it reached widely.
“I don’t know how these investigations work, but it sounds like they cast a pretty broad net across the Capitol community to see what they could find,” Hoover said.
At least four other Sacramento insiders reportedly received similar letters, according to a separate source with knowledge of the matter.
One recipient’s reaction captured the widespread confusion: “Dude, I got this f—ing letter. I never even met with Dana Williamson!”
The source close to the situation said that bewilderment was common among those contacted.
“Their curiosity was that they never even met with Dana Williamson, so they were wondering what this is all about,” the source said. “And now you have the answer.”
The scope of the federal probe took a dramatic turn last month when Gov. Gavin Newsom publicly revealed that he, his wife, and several members of his inner circle were now under investigation.
Newsom characterized the expanding probe as a personal attack orchestrated from Washington.
“Just in the last week, I’ve learned his campaign has reached my own home: to get me, he’s coming after my wife, Jen. A public servant. A woman who has dedicated her life to supporting women and girls. Someone who has done nothing wrong, other than having the temerity to advocate for what she believes in. If they can’t intimidate me, they’ll go after the mother of our children,” he wrote.
He then pivoted to defending his record while redirecting blame toward the Trump administration.
“Donald Trump picked the wrong target. We have nothing to hide. His political operatives can take every record and read every page. But they’ll be looking in the wrong place. Because if they really want to find corruption, look no further than 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue,” Newsom said.
Behind the scenes, a source told Semafor journalist Shelby Talcott that multiple separate investigations tied to Newsom remain underway, centered on his wife’s tax records and on his current chief of staff.
That same source indicated the inquiries did not begin at DOJ headquarters in Washington, but instead originated locally in Sacramento, driven in part by whistleblower accounts.
Newsom escalated his rhetoric further, claiming he had been placed on what he called President Trump’s “hit list,” while accusing the president of “selling the presidency” through approvals connected to golf courses, private jets, and cryptocurrency deals.
He broadened the accusation to include Trump’s adult sons, alleging their business interests overlap with “countries where his own administration is simultaneously making policy.”
Newsom ended his public remarks with a defiant challenge aimed at federal investigators, while insisting his family remain untouched.
“You can subpoena my records. You can investigate me. You can harass me,” he said. “Put my name on every and any enemies list you have, but leave my wife and family out of your personal vendetta.”
