FBI Wiretap of Newsom Ally Began Under Biden, Not Trump. Newsom's 'Political Retaliation' Claim Gets Complicated.

What We Know

Alexis Podesta, 45, a Democratic operative who has held senior roles in both Newsom's administration and former Governor Jerry Brown's, secretly recorded conversations for the FBI as part of a corruption probe. Her attorney confirmed she wore a wire beginning as early as June 2024, according to the New York Post.

The probe centered on Dana Williamson, 53, Newsom's former chief of staff. Williamson pleaded guilty in May 2026 to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, filing a false tax return, and lying to the FBI. Federal prosecutors say Williamson and co-conspirators stole approximately $225,000 from a dormant political campaign account tied to Xavier Becerra — widely viewed as Newsom's likely eventual successor — and funneled the money to Sean McCluskie, disguised as payments to McCluskie's spouse for a no-show job, according to the DOJ.

Podesta has not been charged. Her attorney identified her as the unnamed co-conspirator referenced in Williamson's case documents and confirmed she cooperated with prosecutors. Court records indicate she and Williamson discussed how to handle a public records request involving state litigation affecting a major corporate client, the New York Post reported.

The Timeline Problem for Newsom

Newsom publicly framed the expanding investigation as Trump administration retaliation, saying last month, "Federal agents have knocked on the doors of family, friends, and former employees, not because they found a crime, but because they're simply trying to find one. Donald Trump isn't just coming after me because of my mean tweets. He's coming after me because I'm considering running for president."

Podesta's wire was active in June 2024. Biden was president. The investigation into Williamson itself predates Trump's January 2025 return to the White House.

The New York Post reported that Sacramento political insiders and lobbyists received FBI letters last fall, also during Biden's tenure, notifying them their phone calls had been intercepted during the investigation.

Newsom Praised Williamson on Her Way Out

The New York Post also reported that Newsom gave Williamson a public sendoff in December 2024, describing her as someone whose "insight, tenacity, and big heart will be missed." This came after the FBI had interviewed Williamson in November 2024 and she had been quietly placed on administrative leave.

Williamson was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2025 on 23 charges including bank and wire fraud, obstruction of justice, and false statements. After her guilty plea in May 2026, Newsom changed course: "It's hard, I just think of her daughter, but I'm also mindful of accountability," he said.

Gil Duran, a former colleague under Governor Brown, told CNN that Williamson "has a reputation for being reckless, for being irresponsible and for being a bully" and "was somebody who loved power and loved to abuse power."

The Strongest Case for Newsom

Newsom's concern is not entirely without basis. Federal investigations can be dormant for years and then accelerated by a new administration's DOJ. The fact that the probe began under Biden does not mean Trump's Justice Department hasn't since expanded its scope, increased pressure on witnesses, or directed grand jury subpoenas toward Newsom personally for political reasons. Whether the current trajectory of the investigation reflects legitimate prosecution or selective escalation is genuinely unresolved. The governor says the recent subpoena activity for "years and years of random documents" goes well beyond the Williamson fraud. No independent review of that specific claim has been reported.

However, Newsom has not produced evidence that Trump personally directed the inquiry. The foundational acts — wiring an informant, intercepting calls, building the Williamson case — belong to the Biden-era FBI.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom's Nonprofit

Separately, the New York Post flagged the finances of The Representation Project, the gender-equity nonprofit founded by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the governor's wife. The organization reported $1.24 million in revenue against $1.75 million in expenses for its most recent fiscal year. Net assets dropped from $553,081 to $44,853 over the same period. Siebel Newsom received a $161,250 salary for the fiscal year ending March 2025, the nonprofit's own filings show. No charges related to the nonprofit have been filed, and no investigation into it has been publicly announced.

What Remains Open

Williamson's May 2026 guilty plea is a fact. Podesta's cooperation is confirmed by her own attorney. What is still unresolved: whether the federal grand jury subpoenas Newsom describes represent prosecutorial overreach by the Trump DOJ, legitimate follow-on investigation, or some combination of both. Newsom's 2028 presidential ambitions give him every incentive to cast this as political persecution. Trump's DOJ has every incentive to make the probe as visible as possible. Neither motive cancels the underlying guilty plea or the evidence gathered before either of them had a stake in the outcome.