“ANY state official who chills or threatens to chill a journalist’s 1A rights will have some ‘splainin to do."
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the Department of Justice Harmeet Dhillon said her office will investigate any state official who threatens a journalist’s First Amendment rights.
Dhillon responded on X to reports that the Washington State Attorney General’s Office accused journalists of “harassment” for investigating alleged fraud at Somali-run daycare centers.
“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! Govern yourselves accordingly!” Dhillon posted.
Her comments come amid viral reporting in Minnesota by independent journalist Nick Shirley, who has drawn national attention for visiting daycare centers receiving government funding. Shirley’s reporting showed a lack of children, poor building conditions, and facilities that appeared largely empty, raising questions about possible fraud.
The viral video has been praised by conservatives and has also drawn attention from federal officials. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Monday that the DOJ has charged 98 people in connection with a broader probe tied to the issue. On Tuesday, the Department of Health and Human Services announced it had frozen federal child care funding in Minnesota, citing allegations of fraud.
The reporting has also sparked backlash from left-wing lawmakers, who have accused Shirley of “harassment” for questioning operators at the daycare centers. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has dismissed claims of widespread fraud in the state, saying he has spent years working to “crack down on fraud.”
Following backlash, Shirley noted how journalists may be reluctant to pursue similar investigations out of fear of being labeled “Islamophobic” or “racist.”
"Fraud is fraud, and we work too hard simply just to be paying taxes and enabling fraud to be happening," he told Fox News.
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