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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA bombshell fraud case takes the spotlight in California's high-stakes race for governor
Xavier Becerras longtime advisor Sean McCluskie pleaded guilty to stealing $225,000 from the former Biden Cabinet secretarys campaign account. Democratic and Republican rivals in the 2026 California governors race are seizing on the scandal to question Becerras fitness, warning that legal jeopardy could hand victory to Republicans.
Prosecutors say McCluskie, who took a pay cut to join Becerra at Health and Human Services, diverted campaign funds with others to cover the cost of living in both Washington, D.C., and California.
As Xavier Becerra rose to the top echelons of power in Washington and Sacramento over the last two decades, his trusted advisor Sean McCluskie joined him at every step.
The son of a Scottish immigrant, McCluskie had a reputation as a political street fighter and his gruff style complemented Becerras more measured, cerebral approach.
Now Becerra is under attack in Californias wide-open governors race after McCluskie, 57, pleaded guilty in December to stealing more than $200,000 from Becerras campaign account.
The charges were part of a broader scandal that implicated or brushed up against some of Sacramentos most influential Democratic political advisors, a scheme prosecutors allege included payments, bank fraud and an FBI sting operation that swept McCluskies incriminating private conversations and texts into evidence.
Rivals in the California governors race have seized on the case to question whether Becerra, one of the front-runners in the contest to succeed outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom, is fit for office and could be swept up in the case.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-05-13/becerras-advisor-pleaded-guilty-gubernatorial-rivals-are-piling-on
usonian
(26,502 posts)Oh, this is precious:
Becerra has not been accused of wrongdoing, and prosecutors court filings describe him as a victim. He told The Times that he cooperated with investigators, including appearing before the grand jury.
a kennedy
(36,304 posts)chowder66
(12,483 posts)It was a dormant account. Becerra was not implicated.
Stephen Kaufman, Becerra's longtime lawyer was tasked with overseeing his dormant campaign account. Guess what? He didn't catch it!
Becerra was a Biden cabinet member and was barred from involving himself in campaign matters when this was going down.
"Becerra has not been accused of wrongdoing, and prosecutors court filings describe him as a victim. He told The Times that he cooperated with investigators, including appearing before the grand jury."
Shame on Porter and Steyer.
"Former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter, one of the Democrats who has watched Becerras rapid ascent in the race, said in a CNN interview Monday that California cant risk having Becerra in the race with the specter of the ongoing criminal case.
She acknowledged that I do not have the facts about the case, but said if Becerra were to finish in the top two in the June 2 primary and then be indicted by the Trump administrations Department of Justice, a Republican ultimately could win the governors race in November.
Secretary Becerra cannot and has not guaranteed or promised the people of California that he will not be named as a co-conspirator and indicted, she said."
PeaceWave
(3,686 posts)Californians are cutting through all the B.S. With approximately three weeks to go until election day, we Becerra supporters are feeling extremely confident. Steyer will have spent nearly $250 million trying to buy the Governorship of the wealthiest and most populous state in the Union. Porter will, in all likelihood, have seen an end to her political career. Hilton will be crushed in November. It'll be a proud moment for Californians to have one of their own, the son of Latin American immigrants, a self made man of level temperament and solid character as their Governor. Looking forward to it.
chowder66
(12,483 posts)PeaceWave
(3,686 posts)peggysue2
(12,581 posts)Suggested that Porter and Steyer drop out of the primary. I didn't catch the debate nor did the posters elaborate.
This information fills in the blanks.
Thanks for that!