Gov. Newsom Wails About Assaults on the Free Press, then Signs ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’ into Law

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the “Stop Nick Shirley Act,” Assembly Bill 2624, by Assemblywoman Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) into law Saturday August 22, 2026. Bonta claims her bill is about “privacy for immigration support services providers.”

Gov. Newsom two days ago screeched on X about unfair attacks on the free press:

“A free press cannot function under constant threats and retaliation from the government. Reporters must be free to hold those in power accountable — without fear of retribution. The assault on the free press must end!”

And then he signed the “Stop Nick Shirley Act” into law. 

Republicans nicknamed the bill the “Stop Nick Shirley Act” for independent YouTuber and citizen journalist Nick Shirley after he exposed Somali daycare fraud in Minnesota. 

Bonta, wife of California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta, claims it does not fine or jail journalists simply for “uncovering” Democrat fraud.

However, her bill will fine citizen journalists a minimum $4,000 for exposing fraud inside “Immigration Support Service Providers” – illegal services to illegal aliens.

Bonta’s bill would impose huge civil sanctions on independent investigative reporters for “harassing” what Bonta calls “immigrant services” workers who, in fact, are providing taxpayer-funded goods and services to illegal aliens. It is designed to use as a weapon to intimidate and punish journalists who dissent from mainstream views.

AB 2624 is reminiscent of AB 2098 from October 2022 when Gov. Newsom signed a bill to censor California doctors accused of “Spreading COVID Misinformation” during Covid. Assembly Bill 2098 put unconstitutional restrictions on free speech by medical professionals, and subjected them to disciplinary actions by the Medical Board of California if they did not adhere to the “approved COVID treatment consensus.”

Even before AB 2098 went into effect, it was already used as a weapon to intimidate and punish doctors who dissented from “mainstream views.” However, the bill was ultimately ruled unconstitutional and the governor and COVID “experts” were defeated over their law to punish doctors for “Covid Misinformation.”

California legislators are trying to make investigating fraud illegal, as Elon Musk correctly noted on X.

California legislators are trying to make investigating fraud illegal https://t.co/tmWik0Z1iv

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 13, 2026

The Babylon Bee got it right when they headlined: “California Passes a law making it a crime to report a crime.”

Within days of announcing her new bill, Ms. Bonta claimed “Right-wing agitators, ineffective legislators, and Trump loyalists are intentionally spreading significant misinformation about Assembly Bill 2624.”

Assemblyman Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego) calls it what it is:

CENSORSHIP: The “Stop Nick Shirley Act” that makes it illegal to post videos of fraud against taxpayers is now law. Democrats decided to stop independent journalists from investigating fraud instead of stopping the fraud.

CENSORSHIP: The "Stop Nick Shirley Act" that makes it illegal to post videos of fraud against taxpayers is now law. Democrats decided to stop independent journalists from investigating fraud instead of stopping the fraud. pic.twitter.com/Ifi6Z2udtQ

— @amuse (@amuse) August 23, 2026

DeMaio should know. On Wednesday, Assembly Democrats censored him on the floor of the Assembly during debate over Bonta’s bill.

“California Democrats don’t care about freedom of speech. They silenced @carldemaio when he attempted to debate the Stop Nick Shirley Act bill. Who is next?” I posted to X.

California Democrats don’t care about freedom of speech. They silenced @carldemaio when he attempted to debate the Stop Nick Shirley Act bill.
Who is next? https://t.co/Eqbkot0UBS

— Katy Grimes (@KATYSaccitizen) August 19, 2026

It is curious that Gov. Newsom signed the Stop Nick Shirley Act into law given that it is an unconstitutional attack on free speech… something he claims to care about, but only for people in his tribe.

Governor Newsom, what was that you were saying about “a free press?”

This is outrageous. A free press cannot function under constant threats and retaliation from the government.

Reporters must be free to hold those in power accountable — without fear of retribution.

The assault on the free press must end! https://t.co/xBRpOuenoS

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) August 21, 2026

Assemblyman Carl DeMaio just announced Sunday morning that he is asking the US Department of Justice’s Office of Civil Rights to intervene to block implementation of what he says is a “blatantly unconstitutional” law.

DeMaio said AB 2624 also imposes stiff financial penalties on citizen journalists for posting videos – and the final version of the bill even removed exemptions for journalists under the California Shield Law (Evidence Code – EVID § 1070).

The Office of Civil Rights is currently challenging a number of California state laws and policies in court for violating constitutional rights.

“Newsom and California Democrats have a bad record of repeatedly imposing unconstitutional laws – only to be stopped by the US DOJ and the courts,” DeMaio noted.  “But the damage is done because while we fight in court our constitutional rights are being infringed upon.”