While California Attorney General Bob Bonta is celebrating the destruction of a $267 million hospice fraud scheme, critics across the state and the country are issuing warnings that newly proposed legislation could ultimately punish individuals who are trying to expose fraud within their own communities. Individuals like independent journalist Nick Shirley.
Shirley is the man who helped uncover rampant fraud in Minnesota being perpetrated by members of the Somali community through the use of fake daycare centers. Investigations into the fraud in the state have revealed billions of taxpayer dollars being stolen through this and other health care-related schemes. Shirley appeared on “The Will Cain Show” to discuss the new California bill.
“They’re trying to make it so citizen journalists or just average Americans who are going about seeing what’s happening inside their community — they’re trying to scare them from talking about potential fraud taking place inside of these communities,” the independent journalist told Cain. “They’re literally willing to impose a $10,000 fine or imprisonment if you go and seek to find out the truth about a location that could potentially be fraudulent inside your own neighborhood.”
According to Fox News, the bill, known as AB 2624 or the “Stop Nick Shirley Act,” was introduced by California State Assemblywoman Mia Bonta (D-CA), the attorney general’s wife. If passed, the legislation would expand current safety and privacy laws for individuals working in immigration support services. The bill would also create a program to keep residential addresses confidential and impose harsh penalties for doxing service providers.
The law would allow “victims” to seek damages of at least $4,000, while individuals who share personal information with the intent to threaten or incite violence could face possible jail time and hefty fines up to $10,000. During the interview, Shirley also raised questions about the motivation behind the new bill, stating that it was likely designed to protect fraudsters and hinder investigations rather than provide protections for immigration workers.
He also said those supporting the legislation are “trying to protect these people who are committing this fraud. They’re stealing millions upon millions of dollars, and it just makes you wonder who their donors are.” Users on social media platform X were quick to respond to a video clip of the interview posted online. One commenter wrote, “They don’t want just anybody to be able to come in and uncover all their fraud. It needs to be a liberal. Or someone they can bribe to shhhhhh.”
“It doesn’t make sense. A law to protect fraud. Newsome has some pair of balls introducing a sick law like that. If that passes, California is toast,” another person said. Someone else noted that the public would have never been made aware of any of the fraud happening in the country if it weren’t for social media. “Let me point something out. If it weren’t for X the public wouldn’t know any of this. The politicians think they can operate business as usual. NOT THE CASE ANYMORE!” the person said.
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“Just remember that Harris and other California Democrats went after undercover journalists for showing that Planned Parenthood was selling fetal tissues under the BS excuse they were donating them,” another user noted. Someone summed up the absurdity of the situation by writing, “Life is just one, big Babylon Bee article.”
Featured Image: screenshot from embedded video