USA: Former Newsom Aide on liver transplant Waiting List Skips Routine Court Appearances Amid Federal Case
USA: Dana Williamson, a one time senior aide to California Governor Gavin Newsom, did not physically appear at a federal hearing in Sacramento and her attorney explained she will miss smaller, technical court dates for health reasons because she is on a waiting list for a liver transplant. Her counsel, McGregor Scott, attended the hearing on her behalf and said defense lawyers need more time to review a massive set of materials recently provided by prosecutors.
Williamson is charged in a 23 count federal indictment that stems from three separate alleged incidents. The counts include accusations of stealing funds from an inactive political campaign, tax fraud, and falsifying records amid an investigation related to her receipt of small business loans during the pandemic. Prosecutors have turned over more than 131,000 pages of documents and extensive digital evidence to the defense, a disclosure Scott said the team only received the day before and must sift through.
Two alleged coconspirators named in the case have pleaded guilty. One is Sean McCluskey, formerly a top aide to then Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and the other is lobbyist Greg Campbell. Federal authorities note the breadth of their discovery as the defense prepares. Scott, who served as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California during the prior presidential administration, also told reporters that early meetings with prosecutors suggested they wanted Williamson to cooperate in an inquiry that appeared to involve the governor; Governor Newsom has since stated he has not been questioned and is not aware of being part of any investigation.
Williamson faces a potential sentence that could reach decades in prison on all counts. Her next scheduled court date is February 5 when a trial date could be set. Friends of Williamson have launched an online legal defense fund to assist with her mounting legal needs while she awaits a donor liver.
