The Conservative Cave

As I described here, Dana Williamson was Gov. Newsom's chief-of-staff from early 2023 until then end of 2024. She was dismissed after revealing to her boss that she was under investigation.

Today, Williamson accepted a plea deal related to charges brought against her for fraud. The fraud in question also involved Xavier Becerra, who is currently a leading candidate to replace Newsom as governor.

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One of California’s most influential power brokers pleaded guilty to three felonies on Thursday in a corruption case that has reverberated through the State Capitol and spurred attacks on a Democratic front-runner in the volatile race for governor.

That powerful figure, Dana Williamson, appeared in federal court in Sacramento, where she accepted reduced charges and pleaded guilty to lying to the F.B.I., filing a false tax return and conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud...

...
Becerra is connected to the case but so far only as a victim.

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The alleged scheme saw Williamson siphon campaign funds from Becerra’s state campaign account to pad the salary of his chief of staff, Sean McCluskie. McCluskie and another alleged co-conspirator, lobbyist Greg Campbell, accepted plea deals around the time Williamson was indicted and are scheduled for sentencing on June 4.

“As part of an investigation that began in 2022, Williamson joins the two others who were charged in the ‘Conduit Scheme’ conspiracy in pleading guilty,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Grant in a statement. “These conspirators, three of whom are former public officials, shockingly looted campaign funds for personal benefit. Our office and our law enforcement partners will continue working to protect the integrity of the electoral process and ensure that those who scorn the law are held accountable.”

PCIntern is proof of this.

DU's favorite kind of source: Anonymous.

PALMETTO, Florida, May 14 (Reuters) – Police in Florida are investigating vandalism at a historic, predominantly African American cemetery where 17 gravesites were damaged, with headstones knocked down and “Trump” and “DeSantis” spray-painted in red letters on tombs, referring to the U.S. politicians. 

Detectives believe the incident in Palmetto, a town around 31 miles (50 km) south of Tampa on Florida’s west coast, occurred within the past few weeks. No arrests have been made and the investigation continues, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement on Tuesday.

Glenn Searls, 77, said on Wednesday he felt “extreme anger” at the vandalism at the Old Memphis Cemetery, where members of his family, and others he knows, are buried.

“When you look and you see ‘DeSantis’ and ‘Trump’ spray-painted on a vault, it makes you wonder if it’s politically motivated, and I tend to believe it is,” Searls said of damage to the cemetery established in 1904 for Black residents of Palmetto’s Memphis neighborhood.