California Democrats Advance ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’ to Shield Fraud From Citizen Journalists

California Democrats Advance ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’ to Shield Fraud From Citizen Journalists

Legal Insurrection has been reporting on the work of independent journalist Nick Shirley, starting early this year with his exposure of alleged fraud among Somali-owned “day-care” centers in Minneapolis.

Shirley then traveled to California and began working to uncover fraud in the Golden State. In one 40-minute video, Shirley noted that the fraud in “Minnesota was big, but California is even bigger.”

This is how the hospice fraud works:
– Get a small office in LA
– Collect Medicare beneficiary numbers
– Enroll people into hospice
– Bill the government for millions

Get caught or become suspicious?
Pack up and walk away with millions

END ALL THE FRAUD. pic.twitter.com/xbQFCXKH6B

— Nick shirley (@nickshirleyy) March 17, 2026

Subsequently, the FBI arrested 11 suspected perpetrators of approximately $50 million worth of fraud.

In other times and places, Shirley would be hailed as a hero for his hard work to stop corruption. But this is California in 2026, when an important gubernatorial election is looming.

So, instead, California politicians have proposed legislation to squelch future independent investigative efforts. Let me introduce you to Assembly Bill (AB) 2624, which:

• Extends California’s existing address confidentiality and anti-doxxing protections (now used for reproductive and “gender-affirming” health care) to immigration support service providers, employees, and volunteers who face threats or harassment tied to their work.
• Creates a new address confidentiality program for these immigration support workers so state and local agencies can process public-records requests without revealing their residence addresses.
• Makes it unlawful to solicit, sell, trade, or post on the internet or social media the personal information or images of covered immigration support workers (or people at the same home address) when done with intent to incite or facilitate threats or violence, with associated civil and criminal penalties.

In other words, it allows bureaucrats to apply broad definitions and to threaten the actual journalists uncovering the types of immigration service abuse that Shirley has revealed with his work. The rules can be used to prevent videos from being shared on social media, and fines of $10,000 per violation can be imposed.

The measure is being referred to as the “Stop Nick Shirely Act.”

California Assemblymember Carl DeMaio is raising concerns over a proposed bill he says could limit the ability of independent journalists to report on publicly funded programs.

The legislation, known as AB 2624, recently advanced through the State Assembly with support from Democratic lawmakers. Supporters say the bill is aimed at protecting organizations that serve immigrant communities from potential threats or harassment. Critics, however, argue the language could have broader implications for transparency and public oversight.

DeMaio, a Republican representing San Diego, has been especially vocal, warning that the bill could discourage citizen journalists from documenting and sharing footage tied to taxpayer-funded programs. He has referred to the proposal as the “Stop Nick Shirley Act,” referencing online journalist Nick Shirley, whose viral videos have drawn attention to alleged issues within public services.

During a recent Assembly committee hearing, DeMaio pressed the bill’s author, Mia Bonta, over provisions that would allow individuals affiliated with certain organizations to request the removal of video recordings — even if those recordings were taken in public spaces. He also raised concerns about potential financial penalties for those who publish such content online.

Shirely shared these thoughts:

pic.twitter.com/oy4q5hrkiH

— Nick shirley (@nickshirleyy) April 14, 2026

Clearly, these provisions risk chilling efforts by reporters, oversight organizations, and ordinary citizens to gather evidence and shine light on possible wrongdoing.

I would like to note two other aspects of the bill. First, it is classified as “partisan”, with 9 Democrat sponsors.

Also, Assemblywoman Mia Bonta is married to the state Attorney General.

So the story of Assemblymember Mia Bonta and her husband, Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta, is at once familiar and also jarring.

They are Democrats from the Bay Area city of Alameda. Mia Bonta was elected in 2021 to fill the Assembly seat her husband had held after Rob Bonta was appointed attorney general. The pair have been in the news in recent weeks as reporters questioned whether it was ethical for Assemblymember Bonta to oversee taxpayer funding for the office of Atty. Gen. Bonta. Mia Bonta heads the Assembly budget panel focused on public safety, which had purview over the Department of Justice, which is led by her husband.

Political ethics experts raised concerns about the arrangement, and editorial boards criticized legislative leaders for the apparent conflict of interest. Even Chuck Todd, moderator of NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” weighed in.

“It’s a bad look and it’s only going to reinforce what happens when you have one-party rule,” he said after reporter Ashley Zavala of NBC’s Sacramento affiliate broke the story.

California’s ruling class just sent a loud message: expose fraud, and they’ll come after you, not the fraudsters. While Nick Shirley’s reporting helps uncover tens of millions in alleged abuse of taxpayer‑funded programs, AB 2624 is designed to shield the operators and intimidate the watchdogs who catch them in the act.

Welcome to life under one‑party, blue‑state rule, where the clown show writes itself, the punchlines are paid for with your tax dollars, and the joke is always on the citizens who still believe sunlight is the best disinfectant.

https://t.co/AEuv2LDGq4 pic.twitter.com/9myayC6o76

— Fight With Memes (@FightWithMemes) April 14, 2026

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