"I stand with the Somali childcare providers who have experienced targeted harassment, and condemn the surveillance campaign promoted by extremist influencers."
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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.
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.
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