Officials from the Trump administration are cautioning Seattle’s newly inaugurated left-leaning mayor against targeting citizen journalists. This came into the spotlight after Nick Shirley uncovered alleged fraud tied to the Somali community in Minnesota.
Harmeet Dhillon, who serves as Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, noted that there were claims of harassment against child care workers within that community, which were brought to light by Katie Wilson, a democratic socialist.
“I support Somali child care workers who have faced harassment and denounce the surveillance actions encouraged by extremists,” Wilson stated in a post on Thursday. She also mentioned that anyone who feels they’ve been the victim of a “hate crime” should reach out to the hotline she has established.
In response, Dhillon issued a strong warning and sought clarity regarding the role of citizen journalists.
“In the U.S., questioning and citizen journalism are not hate crimes. They are protected forms of speech. If Seattle attempts to suppress that speech,” she added, urging the Civil Rights department to intervene and correct the situation. “Discipline yourselves accordingly!”
This situation arose after Nick Shirley and his team revealed alleged fraud involving daycare and medical services in Minnesota, as reported by Breitbart News.
Shirley, in a video, expressed the urgency of the issue: “This 42-minute transcript captures our investigation into Minnesota’s fraud. This might be my most significant work yet. We uncovered over $110 million in just one day.”
He encouraged viewers to share the findings broadly, emphasizing the need for accountability from corrupt officials. “We work hard and pay high taxes. These scams must stop,” he stated.
According to Breitbart News, more citizen journalists and community activists are shedding light on potential fraud involving taxpayer money by the Somali community in various states.
Videos from states such as Ohio, Maine, Pennsylvania, and Washington hint at similar fraud schemes reminiscent of those uncovered by Nick Shirley in Minnesota.
Wilson took her oath as Seattle’s mayor on Friday, as reported by ABC News 4.
