Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Socialist Seattle mayor claims indie reporters are 'extremist influencers,' wants to charge them with hate crimes
The Post Millennial ^ | 01/02/2026 | Ari Hoffman

Posted on 01/02/2026 8:32:26 AM PST by DFG

In response to growing allegations of fraud in Somali daycares in the Seattle area and beyond, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson condemned independent journalists investigating the fraud, calling them “extremist influencers.”

In a social media post, Wilson wrote, “I stand with the Somali childcare providers who have experienced targeted harassment, and condemn the surveillance campaign promoted by extremist influencers.” She then encouraged people who believe themselves to be “the victim of a hate crime” to contact Washington’s Hate Crimes and Bias Incident Hotline.

She wrote in an official statement, “In Seattle, we believe in solidarity, and our city will not tolerate anyone who is trying to intimidate, harass, or film Somali childcare providers. Such behavior is unacceptable and puts children and families at risk. Family home childcare programs are places of care, safety, and trust. They are privately operated businesses, not public spaces. And they are regulated by the government, not private individuals or groups.”

Wilson continued, “As mayor, I will work with the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, the Department of Education and Early Learning, the Seattle Police Department, and other city departments to ensure childcare providers in our city are safe, secure, and protected.” Wilson’s comments come as independent reporters compare Washington’s subsidy system to the daycare fraud scandal in Minnesota highlighted by journalist Nick Shirley.

Wilson was slammed for threatening journalists and caught the attention of many in the federal government. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillion posted in response to Wilson, “Asking questions/citizen journalism are NOT HATE CRIMES in America — they are protected speech, and if Seattle tries to chill that speech, [DOJ Civil Rights Division] will step in to protect it and set them straight! Govern yourselves accordingly!”

The day before, Dhillion had called out Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, who posted a similar threat to Wilson’s against independent journalists. She wrote, “ANY state official who chills or threatens to chill a journalist’s 1A rights will have some ‘splainin to do. [DOJ Civil Rights Division] takes potential violations of 18 USC § 242 seriously!”

In response to Wilson’s post, Mike Davis, former Chief Counsel for Nominations for the Senate Judiciary Committee and Article III founder and President, wrote, “Dear Katie: FYI, 'the surveillance campaign promoted by extremist influencers' (citizen-journalists) is core free speech protected by the First Amendment. You'll face severe criminal and civil liability under federal civil-rights statutes if you target them.”

Earlier in the week, journalists Cam Higby and Jonathan Choe highlighted several daycares listed in state records that appeared not to actually be daycares. When Choe rang the doorbell and asked if it was Dhagash Family Childcare, a woman inside replied, “No.” Asked what childcare business operated there, she responded, “I don’t have childcare,” and said it had never been a daycare.

Records list the address as a daycare and show it received more than $210,000 in taxpayer funds in 2025 and is licensed for up to nine children. Higby said an inspection in September found “multiple… serious, and immediate risks to children,” yet the daycare received $22,000 that month.

Center Square reporter Carleen Johnson said she visited four Somali-run daycare homes in Federal Way receiving subsidies, but found there were no children present, and was threatened that the police would be called on her. Kristen Mag, who assisted Higby and Choe, noted Washington lists 539 childcare centers with Somali as the primary language, but many don’t provide street addresses.


TOPICS: Politics
KEYWORDS: corruptpoliticians; criminalconspiracy; demkickbacks; dirtydems; leftcoasttyranny

Click here: to donate by Credit Card

Or here: to donate by PayPal

Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794

Thank you very much and God bless you.


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-33 next last

1 posted on 01/02/2026 8:32:26 AM PST by DFG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: DFG

2 posted on 01/02/2026 8:33:01 AM PST by DFG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG

3 posted on 01/02/2026 8:34:12 AM PST by DFG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: DFG

Hate crimes are unconstitutional.


4 posted on 01/02/2026 8:36:56 AM PST by SaxxonWoods (Annnd....I voted for this too!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG

Katie has likely contracted toxoplasmosis gondi from her cat and will remain irrational for the rest of her life.


5 posted on 01/02/2026 8:38:06 AM PST by allendale
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG

Nick Brown is the quintessential Soros AG/DA


6 posted on 01/02/2026 8:39:02 AM PST by PGR88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG
Paper burns at 451°F. At what temerature does the parchment of the Bill of Rights burn?
7 posted on 01/02/2026 8:40:12 AM PST by KarlInOhio (I pray that the sleeping giant has finally awakened and been filled with a terrible resolve.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG

It looks like Seattle wants to negate the First Amendment, freedom of the press.

What a surprise.
Not.


8 posted on 01/02/2026 8:41:46 AM PST by Leaning Right (It's morning in America. Again.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG

Translation: “How dare you try to interrupt the flow of our kickbacks!”


9 posted on 01/02/2026 8:42:05 AM PST by Antoninus (Republicans are all honorable men.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG

Crime-Busters are “extremists”?


10 posted on 01/02/2026 8:42:46 AM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG

The mayor is getting kickbacks. Bank on it.


11 posted on 01/02/2026 8:44:07 AM PST by Seruzawa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG
Military occupation of Seattle is long overdue.

Also see my tagline.

12 posted on 01/02/2026 8:45:55 AM PST by Salman (Trump is good, but we need Pinochet. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG

There’s another problem. Get a load of this...

Cam Higby 🇺🇸
@camhigby

🚨 Roughly 80% of all publicly disclosed Washington campaign donations made in 2025 by people with “childcare” listed as occupation went to Somali Port of Seattle Comissioner Hamdi Mohamed.

Last edited
12:49 AM · Jan 2, 2026 126.7K Views

https://x.com/camhigby/status/2006966003339809176

Now why would someone need control of Seattle’s Port Commissioner, hmmmmm...?

Someone better damn well be checking out just who in Hades is running our freaking ports.


13 posted on 01/02/2026 8:48:39 AM PST by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away! 🇺🇸 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG

Wilson and Brown are the very personification of corruption, dishonesty, sleaze, etc. They and their true believers are why much of the state wants to secede from WA and be annexed by Idaho.

Phuque ‘M both ...


14 posted on 01/02/2026 8:51:52 AM PST by ByteMercenary (Election 2020 was stolen by mail-in voting. Mail-in voting and RCV counting should be abolished.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG

Proof positive that the Somali pirates are ripping off WA taxpayers. WA Dems are panicked that the entire welfare scam will be exposed as corrupt beyond repair.


15 posted on 01/02/2026 8:58:14 AM PST by DeplorablePaul
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG

TRANSLATION:

LEAVE OUR CAMPAIGN $$$$ CONTRIBUTORS ALONE!.............


16 posted on 01/02/2026 9:00:31 AM PST by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: DFG

She should be prosecuted under 18 U.S.C. § 242, a federal crime where a government official willfully violates someone’s constitutional rights. This is a criminal statute and that miserable excuse for a human being should be put in jail. And failing that in an extreme case prosecuted under U S C 2.338.


17 posted on 01/02/2026 9:05:38 AM PST by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy - EVs a solution for which there is no problem)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG

not only is it not a hate crime, but the law requires people to report crimes they witness.


18 posted on 01/02/2026 9:13:32 AM PST by TexasFreeper2009
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG

Nick Trash Brown speaks


19 posted on 01/02/2026 9:13:33 AM PST by butlerweave (Fateh)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: KarlInOhio
. At what temperature does the parchment of the Bill of Rights burn?

Apparently whatever temperature that is it has already been reached in Seattle.

20 posted on 01/02/2026 9:13:52 AM PST by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy - EVs a solution for which there is no problem)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-33 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson