Independent journalist Nick Shirley captured a video released this week questioning Assembly Bill 2624, which California Republicans called the “Stop the Nick Shirley bill” during interviews with Democratic and Republican lawmakers about the scope and intent of the bill, which California lawmakers faced off against at the state Capitol in Sacramento.
“If this bill passes, instead of going after fraudsters, they will try to make it a crime to go after people who commit fraud,” Shirley said in a video posted on his YouTube page.
The video centers on California Assembly Bill 2624, a bill authored by Rep. Mia Bonta, D-Oakland, that would limit the public release of personal information related to immigration support services, including nonprofits, legal clinics and health care providers.
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Independent journalist Nick Shirley speaks during a roundtable discussion in the State Dining Room of the White House on October 8, 2025 in Washington, DC.
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Asked whether the measure would limit fraud investigations, Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, D-Alhambra, told Shirley: “I think that’s a misunderstanding of the bill, but I’m excited to talk more about it with you.”
The legislation also drew scrutiny in Shirley’s video because Congressman Bonta is married to California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Shirley has repeatedly cast the relationship as a potential conflict of interest while questioning lawmakers whether the bill would make it more difficult to uncover fraud involving taxpayer-funded immigration services.
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“I don’t actually think this bill violates the First Amendment,” Perez said when asked about the constitutional issue.
“We have ledges [legislative] Legal counsel and platform attorneys to discuss this matter with us. Constitutionality is really important to this effort. “
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Shirley’s video showed lawmakers repeatedly declining to discuss the bill in detail, with some saying they were unfamiliar with its content or needed further review.
“I need to read the bill,” Rep. Josh Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, said after Shirley told him he had signed the bill.
One of the most poignant exchanges came when Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, was contacted and asked what he thought of the legislation.
“I think you’re a psychological trick artist,” Weiner said on camera before closing the door on Shelly.
Shirley also contacted Salinas State Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and asked direct questions about the legislation.
“I don’t know anything about it,” Rivas said, before closing the door on Shirley as well.
“It just goes to show you everything you need to know,” Nick Shirley said after Rivas ignored the rest of his questions. “These people won’t even answer questions.”
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Conservative influencer Nick Shirley photographs protesters protesting a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest on October 22, 2025 in New York, New York.
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Rep. Carl DeMaio, R-San Diego, appeared on video to oppose the measure, arguing the bill’s language could hamper independent reporting on the alleged fraud.
“You read the bill and you realize it violates the First Amendment,” DeMaio said. “It criminalizes citizen investigative journalists who take videos and expose fraud.”
“That’s the purpose of this bill,” he said. “The purpose of it is to keep it secret and not let the public know what’s going on. They don’t want their fraud to end.”
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Fox News reached out to the California Democratic Party for comment but did not immediately respond.
Original source of the article: Nick Shirley confronts California Democrats over ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’, urges preservation of First Amendment rights
