Exclusive | Wannabe-governor Xavier Becerras campaign probed by watchdog investigating Gavin Newsoms wire-wearing ally

A Democrat insider who reportedly secretly wore an FBI wire to help take down Gavin Newsom’s chief of staff is now a liability for Xavier Becerra, the Democratic frontrunner to become California’s next governor.The California Post has learned Alexis Podesta, an informant in a sweeping public corruption case, is now the subject of multiple investigations by California’s political watchdog the Fair Political Practices Commission — including one involving one of Becerra’s political committees.Podesta, 45, is also being investigated over an allegation she failed to disclose more than $1 million in lobbying income.The investigations are raising new questions about the FBI’s star cooperating witness and whether the scrutiny could become a distraction for Becerra’s gubernatorial campaign.The attorney for Dana Williamson, Newsom’s disgraced former chief of staff, told The Post Podesta secretly wore an the wire during an expansive public corruption investigation.

Williamson was Podesta’s longtime mentor who pleaded guilty to federal tax and wire fraud charges in May.Williamson handed much of her political consulting business to Podesta after joining Newsom’s administration in late 2022, including work on Becerra’s political campaigns.Campaign records reveal Becerra maintained a political committee for a potential campaign for state superintendent of public instruction in 2030.The Podesta Company was paid at least $170,000 in 2023 and 2024 for campaign consulting.

At the time, Becerra was serving in Joe Biden’s cabinet as secretary of Health and Human Services.The payments show how closely Podesta remained tied to Becerra’s political operation, with Williamson entrusting her with the numerous consulting accounts she had managed before joining Newsom’s administration in January, 2023.According to federal prosecutors, Williamson directed dormant campaign committees to send roughly $10,000 a month to The Podesta Company under the guise of campaign c...