The New York Post reported that the FBI successfully placed a mole deep inside Gov. Gavin Newsom’s political orbit by turning one of his closest allies into a secret informant who wore a wire, according to new revelations.

Democrat power broker Alexis Podesta, 45, secretly recorded conversations as part of the federal corruption investigation into Newsom’s then-chief of staff, Dana Williamson, 53. Williamson pleaded guilty in May to federal charges including conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, filing a false tax return, and lying to the FBI.

“Alexis wore a wire, and Dana did not,” said McGregor Scott, Williamson’s attorney and former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California.The disclosure explains why dozens of Sacramento politicians, lobbyists, and insiders received FBI letters last fall notifying them that their phone calls and communications had been intercepted — even though many had little or no direct connection to Williamson. Assemblymember Josh Hoover (R-Folsom) confirmed he received one of the letters despite never speaking with Williamson or Podesta.“ This casts a pretty broad net across the Capitol community,” Hoover said.

That should make a lot of people in Sacramento very nervous.

Key Details of the Investigation:

• Podesta began cooperating and wearing the wire as early as June 2024.
• She is identified in court documents as the uncharged “Co-Conspirator 2” in the Williamson case.
• Podesta remains on the State Compensation Insurance Fund board, a position to which Newsom appointed her in 2020. She continues to receive approximately $61,000 per year in compensation from the state.
• The probe involved a scheme to siphon roughly $225,000 from a dormant campaign account belonging to former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. Funds were allegedly funneled as disguised consulting payments.
• Court records show Williamson shared confidential state government information with Podesta regarding a corporate client (reportedly Activision Blizzard) while Williamson served as chief of staff.

Podesta’s attorney, Bill Portanova, has confirmed her cooperation with federal investigators. She has not been charged with any crime.

Gov. Newsom is trying to frame the expanding federal investigations — which now reach into his inner circle, his own actions, and those of his wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom — as a politically motivated “hit list” orchestrated by President Trump. Newsom publicly accused Trump of directing the Department of Justice to target him and his wife out of personal vendetta, citing his criticism of Trump and speculation about a potential 2028 presidential run.

“Not because they found a crime. Because they are simply trying to find one,” Newsom stated. He described the probes as “abusing the grand jury process” and digging through “years and years of random documents,” while claiming Trump has “no boundaries” in going after political opponents and even their families. Jennifer Siebel Newsom echoed the sentiment, stating there are “clearly no boundaries to what Donald Trump will do to get his way.”

The governor’s office has used the controversy to fundraise, while declining further comment on the Podesta matter, calling it a personnel issue.

Williamson’s sentencing is pending. The U.S. Attorney’s Office declined further comment.This development highlights the widening federal scrutiny surrounding Newsom’s administration amid his claims of retaliatory targeting by the Trump DOJ.

The Feds seem to be closing in, and Newsom playbook looks like it's running out of excuses.