BOMBSHELL: Gavin Newsom associate wore a wire for FBI as far back as June 2024: report

An FBI corruption investigation involving former California chief of staff Dana Williamson relied on a cooperating insider who secretly recorded conversations for federal investigators, according to Williamson's attorney. The disclosure comes as the broader federal probe has expanded to include Gov. Gavin Newsom, his wife, and members of the governor's inner circle.

Attorney McGregor Scott, who represents Williamson, said Democratic political operative Alexis Podesta had been cooperating with investigators since at least June 2024, according to the New York Post reports.

“Alexis wore a wire, and Dana did not,” Scott said. 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 allege she participated in a scheme that diverted roughly $225,000 from a dormant campaign account belonging to former Xavier Becerra. Prosecutors say the payments were disguised as consulting fees while benefiting Becerra's former chief of staff, Sean McCluskie.

The revelation helps explain why numerous Sacramento political figures and lobbyists received FBI notifications last fall advising them that their phone conversations had been intercepted, despite many saying they had no apparent connection to Williamson.

Republican Assemblymember Josh Hoover said he was among those notified.

“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.

“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.”

Another source familiar with the matter said at least four Sacramento insiders received similar notifications. One recipient reportedly reacted by saying, “Dude, I got this f—ing letter. I never even met with Dana Williamson!”

“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.”

Last month, Newsom announced that he, his wife, and members of his inner circle were under federal investigation.