‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’: Democrats Push To Criminalize Exposing Fraud, Republican Warns
A bill proposed by Democrats in California could see independent journalists face criminal charges for exposing fraud in the state, a Republican lawmaker warns.
Republican California State Rep. Carl DeMaio blasted the legislation, House Bill 2624 (AB2624), as “The Stop Nick Shirley Act” during a committee hearing this week. The bill, introduced by California Democratic state Rep. Mia Bonta, would shield so-called “immigration providers” from scrutiny and provide protections like those afforded to abortion providers in the state. In a statement on the legislation, DeMaio dubbed it the “Stop Nick Shirley Act,” framing it as a Democratic effort to prevent the exposure of fraud and abuse like alleged daycares run by Somali migrants. (RELATED: Journalist who exposed Somalia scams scandal says he needs security to continue investigations)
Nick Shirley at the Quality Learning Center
“California Democrats are trying to intimidate citizen journalists and protect the waste and fraud happening at far-left NGOs. AB 2624 can only be described as the ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’ – a bill designed to silence citizen journalists who expose fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars,” DeMaio said in a statement. “Instead of fixing uncovered fraud issues, Sacramento politicians are trying to silence the people who speak out against them.”
“AB 2624 would allow activists and taxpayer-funded organizations to demand the deletion of video evidence – even if it shows misconduct in plain sight – and threaten journalists with massive financial penalties,” DeMaio continued. “This is not about public safety, but about protecting powerful interests.”
WATCH:
DeMaio confronted Bonta, the wife of Democratic California Attorney General Rob Bonta, about the legislation during a committee hearing.
“You don’t give journalists an exemption. You also don’t differentiate between posting a video, like Miss Medo in her investigation, who posted a video of, what, 90 fake hospices and Mr. Shirley had dozens, you know, 50 to 60 fake learning centers for the Somali community in Minnesota,” DeMaio said in the clip posted to YouTube. “Publishing the video would apparently be punishable by your law.”
The legislation was referred to the Assembly committees on Privacy and Consumer Protection, Judiciary and Public Safety, according to the California State Legislature webpage.
Shirley brought the issue of welfare fraud in Minnesota into the national debate after posting a 42-minute video showing him visiting several Somali-run daycares. Shirley released a similar 40-minute video in March describing his investigation into Los Angeles-area hospice centers, claiming he uncovered at least $170 million in fraud.
In Washington state, citizen journalists began similarly investigating Somali child care centers, prompting a state lawmaker to introduce legislation to exempt information about the facilities from public records laws. Whistleblowers in Maine and Ohio say Somali scammers have engaged in welfare fraud schemes in those states.
Federal authorities estimated in December that the amount of alleged fraud in Minnesota’s Medicaid program alone had reached more than $9 billion.
“If this bill becomes law, the message is clear to all California journalists: Report corruption and you will be punished,” DeMaio said in a statement. “AB 2624 is a direct unconstitutional attack on transparency and the First Amendment – and it must be defeated. »
California has charged David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt with 15 counts of engaging in undercover journalism at Planned Parenthood clinics. After a legal battle that lasted more than a decade, the last charge was dropped on April 3.
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