Nick Shirley says the California bill aims to protect NGOs from scrutiny

Freelance reporter Nick Shirley accused California lawmakers of trying to shield taxpayer-funded organizations from scrutiny after the state Assembly advanced AB 2624, the so-called “Stop Nick Shirley Act,” a bill the author says is intended to protect immigration service providers from harassment and threats.

“Obviously I’m devastated,” Shirley said during an appearance Wednesday night on “Fox News @ Night” with Trace Gallagher.

“The good thing about this is that this bill protects private and non-profit organizations,” said Shirley. “These are organizations and groups that receive our tax dollars, yet they want to do it so we can’t find out what they’re doing with our tax dollars.”

Shirley said the proposal would prohibit the investigation of organizations that receive public money.

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The comments come after Gallagher echoed the words of Assemblywoman Mia Bonta, D-Oakland, who sponsored the law and said immigration service providers have faced harassment, doxxing campaigns and threats.

Shirley pushed back against supporters of AB 2624, saying the law would expose investigators and journalists to legal risks while scrutinizing federally funded organizations. (Screenshot)

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Shirley dismissed the argument that her reporting amounted to harassment.

“My answer is to stop using these communities, defraud them, and no one will ever guess about the fraud that is happening when we know that the fraud is true,” said Shirley.

Referring to her previous report, Shirley pointed to allegations of fraud involving Minnesota nonprofits and California hospice workers.

“The Somalis in Minnesota, they stole hundreds of millions, billions of dollars, and they had fraud going on inside California,” Shirley said. “Everyone was lying. Her husband then tried to take credit for exposing the hospice scam after I went to expose hospice corruption.”

Conservative figures including Rep. Tim Burchett, actor Dean Cain and activist Lily Tang Williams went online after Shirley criticized the California law. (Getty Images)

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Shirley was referring to Congresswoman Mia Bonta’s husband, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

“This fraud has been going on for a long time. These fraudsters thought they could be successful so many people started doing this fraud.”

In the X-post, Shirley said the bill would put journalists at risk of the public by investigating fraud involving immigrant support services, non-profit organizations and health care facilities. He pointed out that investigators could face subpoenas, attorney fees and legal damages if covered entities say they fear for their safety.

This position has received support from several elected officials and political analysts. Rep. Tim Burchett responded, “This is Democrat leadership.”

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Lily Tang Williams, a Republican New Hampshire congresswoman, said taxpayers should be concerned about the law.

“Taxpayers must be upset about this in CA,” said Williams. “If CA signs this bill to protect fraudsters, the Federal government must fight back.”

AB 2624, titled “Confidentiality of Immigration Service Providers,” passed the Assembly and was sent to the California Senate on Wednesday. This measure would create privacy and address confidentiality protections for immigration service providers who face written threats or harassment because of their work.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Assemblymember Mia Bonta for comment, but she did not immediately respond.