Posted on 05/30/2026 1:13:04 AM PDT by John Semmens
This week, the California Assembly passed the "Stop Nick Shirley Act," (Assembly Bill 2624). The legislation was written and sponsored by Assemblywoman Mia Bonta (D-district 18) "to counter the reign of terror being waged by amateur reporter Nick Shirley against organizations receiving public funds to carry out desperately needed services for poorer members of our society. Mr. Shirley and others who would eagerly follow his methods of asking to see actual services being provided to beneficiaries are undermining taxpayers' faith and trust in how the state government is handling this money."
"My bill bans the taking of any photographs or asking questions that make government employees doling out the subsidies or the employees of organizations receiving the subsidies feel threatened or uncomfortable," Bonta explained. "My bill authorizes fines of $4,000 per photograph or question asked. We feel confident that this legislation will fend off low budget operators who are not real members of the recognized media and lack the means to hire the lawyers to try to prove they have a right to freely access information we don't think they're entitled to have."
Shirley defended himself, saying "the fraud I've uncovered so far amounts to billions of dollars being diverted from the claimed worthy beneficiaries into the hands of criminals who are providing no services of any kind to the poor. The taxpayers whose money is being stolen to enrich crooks deserve to be informed. This is why the First Amendment was adopted for our nation's Constitution. Ms. Bonta's bill is clearly unconstitutional."
Bonta rejected Shirley's assertion, pointing out "he is not a lawyer. My husband is California's Attorney General. If my bill was unconstitutional he wouldn't have let me go ahead with the legislation. On top of his intruding into business operations he is unqualified to judge, Mr. Shirley also appears to be practicing law without a license and could face charges over and above the $4,000 per violation detailed in my legislation. Not only could he face possible bankruptcy, but many powerful organizations stand to lose a lot of money if Shirley and his ilk are not deterred from their efforts to impede this cash flow. Folks have been killed for less."
ping
Bonta is clearly unhinged.
This is clearly unconstitutional!
No bill of Attainder shall be passed!
Article 1 Section 9 clause 3.
California the fraud center of America won’t have any Nick Shirley and others releasing facts.
Hell’s bells; she makes the case FOR Nick, not against him!
“”Mia Bonta is the CEO of Oakland Promise, a nonprofit cradle-to-college support program focused on the city’s low-income students””
Perhaps her NON PROFIT should be investigated....
BeijiingBiden corrupted all crime stats when he changed the rules on reporting such to the FBI. It is now voluntary and local authorities can change the definition to support elections.
Absolutely without a doubt - which is why the unhinged rant on her part. Probably a real investigation would drop her sorry ass in prison. However, in the land of fruits and nuts and massive graft at the taxpayers expense and the enrichment of Democrat politicians and their friends this will NEVER happen. Don't want to cut the Democrat hogs off the grift trough.
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