Sacramento lobbyist Greg Campbell pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy charges in a federal probe that has spooked California’s Democratic political establishment.
Campbell, formerly a top aide in the California legislature, was reportedly stoic as he entered a guilty plea Thursday as part of an alleged corrupt scheme involving Gov. Gavin Newsom’s former chief of staff and a longtime top aide to Xavier Becerra, the former Health and Human Services secretary who’s running to replace Newsom as governor.
“Mr. Campbell will remain focused on his family and making positive contributions to the community,” Todd Pickles, Campbell’s attorney, told reporters Thursday at the courthouse. “Mr. Campbell is deeply grateful for the support from his family and friends during this difficult time.”
Campbell copped to one charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one charge of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud. Prosecutors will seek lighter sentencing as part of the plea deal, per the LA Times.
Campbell is one of three Democratic power brokers charged in a sweeping federal indictment that accused Dana Williamson, a powerful lobbyist and former Newsom staffer, of working with Campbell and Sean McCluskie, Becerra’s former chief of staff, to skim $225,000 from Becerra’s dormant campaign account to pay for a no-show job for McCluskie’s spouse.
McCluskie pleaded guilty to bank and wire fraud charges last month.
Williamson also falsely claimed more than $1.7 million in tax write-offs for a Chanel bag and earrings, a trip on a chartered jet and a birthday jaunt to Mexico costing nearly $170,000, according to prosecutors.
Campbell helped to gin up fake contracts at Williamson’s request, prosecutors said. Williamson had been subpoenaed questioning her company’s eligibility for PPP loans, and prosecutors alleged that the two conspired to create the retroactive contracts for her firm, Grace Public Affairs.
Williamson is facing 23 counts including bank fraud and wire fraud. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Steve Maviglio, a former aide to ex-Gov. Gray Davis and Karen Bass, launched a legal defense fund for Williamson that’s netted nearly $9,000 so far. Donors include Mark Krausse, a former PG&E lobbyist and Newsom appointee to the Public Employment Relations Board.
Both Newsom and Becerra, who was California attorney general before joining President Joe Biden’s administration, have denied knowledge of the scheme.
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