Steve Hilton. 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. (Credit: KPIX)
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. Human Services secretary knew about, or assisted in, the act — a clear breach of federal restrictions on using campaign funds for personal ends.
The guilty pleas complicate a tense political picture for Becerra, a Democratic frontrunner to replace outgoing California Gov.Gavin Newsom.
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 TOP BIDEN OFFICIAL RIPPED OVER SCANDAL-PLAGUED PAST DURING FIERY DEBATE: 'MORE FRAUD'
Former Health. 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.(Leonard Ortiz/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
"Today we learned that he knew about illegal. 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.
Becerra has denied any wrongdoing, saying in astatementahead of Thursday night's debate: "I did nothing wrong. Case closed."
The candidate's former chief of staff, Sean McCluskie,. 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. Williamson withdrew payments in increments of $7,500 to $10,000 from Becerra’s war chest between 2022 and 2024.
FORMER GAVIN NEWSOM CHIEF OF STAFF CHARGED IN $225K FRAUD AND CORRUPTION SCHEME, DOJ SAYS
Democratic candidates Antonio Villaraigosa, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer. 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.(Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images)
Under Federal Election Commission regulations. government employees are prohibited from using campaign funds for expenses unrelated to the election or official duties.
Becerra countered the attacks at Thursday's debate by pointing out he hadn’t been named in the case.
FellowDemocratic candidate Katie Porter,a former congresswoman, said that his defense isn’t proof of innocence.
"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,. 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. 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.(Alex Wong/Getty Images)
In his role as HHS secretary, Becerra advised PresidentJoe Bidenduring the COVID-19 pandemic from 2021 to 2025.
He began his political career as deputyattorney generalof 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.
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