Former Newsom aide facing FBI probe netted $62,000 in taxpayer cash after leaving office

Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif.

A former Chief of Staff to Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom continued receiving taxpayer-funded payouts despite being on leave for an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption.

Dana Williamson, who served as the governor’s chief of staff from 2023 to 2024, received a total payout of over $62,000 in 2025, including $30,000 for unused vacation time she used to remain on payroll and an additional $22,000 for remaining time off, according to the L.A. Times.