Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman criticized Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom for attacking YouTuber Nick Shirley during a Wednesday “All-In Podcast” episode.
Shortly after Shirley released a Monday video in which he claimed to document over $170 million in taxpayer fraud in California, Newsom’s press office X account posted a cartoon image of the YouTuber at a daycare, asking to see the children there. On the podcast, Fetterman appeared to reference the post, and accused Newsom of implying Shirley was a pedophile and suggested the governor should seek common ground with the YouTuber on reducing fraud.
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“Why can’t you celebrate any journalist or any activist doing that? And Governor Newsom put out a disgusting video implying that he’s a pedophile or he’s that … why? That’s kind of a smear,” Fetterman said. “You want to disagree, but to imply that someone in one of the most gross kinds of terms like that — it’s like, hey, shouldn’t we agree, eliminate all the waste? If it exists under my purview, let’s eliminate it. Let’s call that what it is. I’m not going to call someone or imply that you’re a pedophile or you’re going after kids in gross ways.”
“[F]raud can happen on both sides, but when it’s identified, I don’t care if it’s in a Democratic state,” he added. “We should all just acknowledge maybe there is a problem here.”
During the video, Shirley visited what he said were daycare centers, hospices and adult daycares. He confronted individuals allegedly working at the businesses and pressed them to articulate where tax money was going.
“It’s sad to think about it. Here in the United States, we are literally being defrauded by people who are taking advantage of old people, young people in daycares, disabled people with autism clinics, and no one is doing anything to stop it,” Shirley said in the video. “So I think it’s time we stand up to these fraudsters.”
Newsom’s press office also criticized President Donald Trump in response to the video.
“WOW. Nick Shirley finds potential FRAUD in DONALD TRUMP’s FEDERAL Medicare system!” Newsom’s office posted on X Tuesday. “Gavin Newsom imposed a moratorium on new hospice licenses starting in 2021.”
Moreover, Shirley previously released a video highlighting alleged fraud linked to Somali daycares in Minnesota in December.
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