New questions are surrounding California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s political operation following reports that a longtime Democratic insider secretly recorded conversations while assisting a federal corruption investigation.
The investigation initially centered on Dana Williamson, Newsom’s former chief of staff, but reports indicate federal authorities have also examined people and financial activity connected to the governor, his staff and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
According to the New York Post, investigators obtained cooperation from Alexis Podesta, a veteran Democratic political operative with extensive connections inside California’s state government.
Podesta reportedly began recording conversations as early as June 2024, well before the broader investigation became publicly known.
Williamson pleaded guilty in May 2026 to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, filing a false tax return and making false statements to a federal agent.
Her attorney, former U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott, confirmed that Podesta assisted investigators while Williamson did not.
“Alexis wore a wire, and Dana did not,” Scott told the newspaper.
The disclosure may help explain why several Sacramento lobbyists, lawmakers and political insiders reportedly received letters from the FBI informing them that some of their telephone conversations had been intercepted during the investigation.
Several recipients were reportedly surprised because they had little or no apparent connection to Williamson.
Republican California Assemblyman Josh Hoover said he received one of the notification letters even though he had never spoken with Williamson or Podesta.
