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California governor candidate Becerra denies wrongdoing after former staffers plead guilty to stealing $225,000 from his inactive campaign account.
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'Bishop Barron slams 'borderline communists' Sanders, Mamdani ahead of Trump prayer event: 'Economy that kills'Iowa Dem admits being ‘uncomfortable’ with whiteness as she seeks to flip competitive House seatIsrael, Jews targeted worldwide as well-funded leftist, Islamist groups join for ‘Nakba 78’ protestsGOP can't agree on key part of Trump's housing affordability push as infighting continuesTrump touts ‘fantastic trade deals’ in final Xi meeting amid tariff standoffVance says citizens have a role in rooting out fraudEric Trump: 'I would never rule anything out''Be Quiet': Lawmaker's questioning of Soros-backed prosecutor erupts in heated exchangeTrump says Iran's latest proposal had weak nuclear guaranteesCalifornia rivals pummel Becerra over aide’s campaign theft scandal Steve Hilton and Katie Porter hammered Xavier Becerra in California’s final gubernatorial debate, citing former aide Dana Williamson’s guilty plea for stealing $225K from his campaign and asking if Becerra was involved.
Xavier Becerra was forced to fend off a barrage of attacks from rivals in the race for California governor after a pair of his former employees pleaded guilty in a campaign finance scandal the same day as the debate. After two of Becerra's staffers pleaded guilty on Thursday to siphoning money from an inactive campaign account to supplement their salaries, questions emerged over whether the former Health and Human Services secretary knew about, or assisted in, the act — a clear breach of federal restrictions on using campaign funds for personal ends.
Steve Hilton, a Republican frontrunner in the crowded field, said at Thursday’s debate that knowledge of the scheme should disqualify Becerra from pursuing the office any further. Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, speaks during a roundtable discussion with representatives from Child Guidance Center in Santa Ana on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
"Today we learned that he knew about illegal and improper payments from his campaign account to his former chief of staff," Hilton said. "Honestly, it pains me to say because I like you personally, Xavier, but you shouldn’t be on this stage. You shouldn’t be in this race. You should be preparing your criminal defense," Hilton added.
The candidate's former chief of staff, Sean McCluskie, and California political strategist Dana Williamson pleaded guilty to stealing $225,000 from an out-of-use campaign account that Becerra used to previously pursue a state-level office. According to prosecutors, McCluskie and Williamson withdrew payments in increments of $7,500 to $10,000 from Becerra’s war chest between 2022 and 2024.
Democratic candidates Antonio Villaraigosa, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer and Xavier Becerra and Republican candidates Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco participate in a California gubernatorial debate at East Los Angeles College Auditorium in Monterey Park, Calif. , on May 5, 2026, ahead of the June 2 primary elections. Under Federal Election Commission regulations, government employees are prohibited from using campaign funds for expenses unrelated to the election or official duties.
"What the quote was, was that you had not been mentioned in the charging documents," Porter remarked. "But as you know, that does not preclude, because you are also a trained attorney, you know that does not preclude an indictment from being issued against you," she went on. "We do not know what Dana Williamson said about your involvement, and the government will have the ability to reveal that later.
" EX-BIDEN OFFICIAL'S CAMPAIGN FACES HEAT AS MISSING CHILDREN SCANDAL RESURFACES: 'VOTERS DESERVE BETTER' President Joe Biden delivers remarks on reproductive rights as Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra listen during an event at the Roosevelt Room of the White House on July 8, 2022. Biden signed an executive order on access to reproductive health care services.of California and served in the California State Assembly from 1990 to 1992.
Becerra then held a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2017 before becaming California attorney general from 2017 to 2021 before being tapped to lead HHS. The California primary will be held on June 2. The top two candidates will advance to a general election on Nov. 3. Leo Briceno is a politics reporter for the congressional team at Fox News Digital.
He was previously a reporter with World Magazine. , and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.
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