Independent Journalist Discusses Daycare Fraud Investigation on CNN

Independent journalist Nick Shirley appeared on CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360” recently, where he discussed his investigation into fraud allegations at a Minnesota daycare center. During the segment, CNN correspondent Whitney Wilde questioned his investigative methods.

“But don’t you think the nursery should be unlocked?” Wilde asked. “You can’t just walk into a nursery school.”

“There should be a receptionist,” Shirley replied, maintaining that protocols should be followed.

Later in the interview, Wilde remarked, “No, all daycare centers are locked.”

“You make a valid point. So, why can’t you provide us with information on how to enroll our child?” Shirley countered.

Wilde pressed Shirley on how he knew his allegations were accurate. Shirley responded, “We’ve outlined what’s happening, and you can analyze that yourself.”

“So, do you think it’s 100% true?” Wilde asked.

“Yeah, I’m 100% sure it’s true,” Shirley asserted confidently.

Shirley described Wilde as “very friendly,” but he expressed surprise that she seemed more concerned about the nature of his investigation rather than the daycare itself.

“They were giving me a hard time,” Shirley explained. “I said, ‘Ma’am, you’re defending fraud. What are you talking about?'” He added that the daycare had received $1.9 million in funding but was not even operational, highlighting the serious allegations at hand.

During the show, Shirley firmly refuted Wilde’s comments regarding the current operations of the daycare. He noted the disconnect between the alleged fraud and the current state of the daycare.

CNN hasn’t responded to requests for comment on this matter.

Shirley gained significant attention after releasing a 42-minute video about the daycare, which appears inactive even after receiving millions in government assistance. His reporting prompted a federal investigation, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has since frozen all childcare payments to Minnesota.