(LifeSiteNews) — After independent investigator Nick Shirley exposed rampant daycare fraud in Minnesota and hospice and Medicare fraud in California perpetrated by immigrants, Democrat lawmakers in California advanced legislation that would target journalists who use undercover video footage to expose fraud.
The bill would criminalize investigative journalism with misdemeanors, $10,000 fines, imprisonment, and content removal.
“Outrageous!” California state Assemblyman Carl DeMaio declared. “The author of ‘The ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’ “misrepresented contents of the bill” and “lied to committee members.”
“The bill would basically ban Nick Shirley from posting videos exposing fraud in California,” DeMaio said.
“AB 6218.19 prohibits an individual from posting a video online if the fraud organization says you can’t do that,” DeMaio noted. “The fraud organization can then ‘seek injunctive and declaratory relief in a court of competent jurisdiction.’”
“We have got to stop this bill,” he declared. “And I just gave the state assembly members the chance to strike the bill from the record, which basically would kill the bill.”
However, “Democrats in the state assembly voted to keep and protect her bill and advance it on!” he exclaimed.
“Protect freedom of speech. Expose the fraud that’s happening in California that’s costing taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars,” said DeMaio, urging California citizens to contact their representatives and Governor Gavin Newsom.
🚨 JUST IN: California Democrat lawmakers just voted to MOVE FORWARD with the Stop Nick Shirley Act because they are terrified of fraud
They want to CRIMINALIZE investigative journalism against fraud. They’re PANICKING!
Rep Carl DeMaio: “That would basically ban Nick Shirley… pic.twitter.com/EeSHBs3HtC
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 16, 2026
Under AB 2624, government-funded entities like the misspelled Somali Quality “Learing” Center and others would be protected from being exposed if they operated inside California.
“The enemy truly is within. When our politicians would rather protect fraudsters and illegal migrants, it’s time for us to stand up or face mass oppression from the traitors who ‘rule’ over us,” Shirley warned.
DeMaio dubbed AB 2624 the “Stop Nick Shirley Act” for the chilling effect it will have on free speech.
“California Democrats are trying to intimidate citizen watchdog journalists and protect waste and fraud happening in far-Left-wing NGOs,” DeMaio said in a statement earlier this week. “Instead of fixing the fraud problems being uncovered, Sacramento politicians are trying to shut down the people exposing them.”
“AB 2624 would allow activists and taxpayer-funded organizations to demand the removal of video evidence – even if it captures misconduct in plain view – and threaten journalists with massive financial penalties,” DeMaio continued. “That’s not about public safety – it’s about protecting powerful interests.”
“If this bill becomes law, the message is clear to every journalist in California: expose corruption and you will be punished. AB 2624 is an unconstitutional direct attack on transparency and the First Amendment – and it needs to be defeated,” he added.
