Independent journalist Nick Shirley reported receiving death threats and harassment, including distressing phone calls to his family, following a video he published that accused a Minnesota day care center of fraud.
During a television appearance on December 31, Shirley detailed the threats, mentioning he was warned he would be “Kirked,” referencing the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September.
This backlash emerged after Shirley investigated several publicly funded child care centers in Minnesota. He asserted that, despite being allocated substantial state funding, the center appeared almost empty.
Allegedly, it raised around $4 million in taxpayer funds.
On the podcast, Shirley expressed that he has faced threats both online and in person since his video gained traction.
He quoted the threats as being, “You’re going to be Kirked,” referring to the context of Charlie Kirk’s fate. He expressed his frustration, especially about the impact on his family, stating, “It’s difficult to comprehend how we ended up in this situation—my family hasn’t done anything wrong, yet they’re being treated like villains.”
He recounted a specific instance where his sister received a call asking why they were involved in this matter.
Shirley emphasized that his investigation was motivated by concerns over fiscal responsibility rather than political interests.
“This isn’t a left-right issue; it’s about transparency,” he noted. “I have revealed evidence of fraud.”
As previously reported, Minnesota officials dismissed Shirley’s claims. Tikki Brown, who oversees the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families, stated that prior inspections revealed no signs of fraud. Brown acknowledged the growing attention surrounding the video and stated, “We take concerns about fraud seriously, though we question some of the methods shown in the video.”
Compounding the situation, on December 30, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced it would cease covering child care fees for Minnesota.
Shirley has yet to provide further comments on the situation.
