Young Kim

California Democrats want to jail people who "are actually exposing" government fraud, Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., told Newsmax on Thursday.

Appearing on "Wake Up America," Kim blasted California Democrats over what she called failed leadership, runaway fraud, and attacks on independent journalists uncovering corruption in the Golden State.

Speaking with co-hosts Sharla McBride and Marc Lotter, Kim focused heavily on what she described as massive healthcare fraud in California's hospice system, praising efforts by federal officials and journalists exposing abuses.

Lotter pointed out that Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, this week announced 800 hospital and home healthcare providers in California have been suspended after investigations into alleged foreign-linked criminal fraud schemes siphoning taxpayer dollars from Medicare and vulnerable seniors.

Kim said independent journalist Nick Shirley played a key role in exposing fraudulent hospice operators and accused California Democrats of trying to silence those uncovering corruption.

"For the longest time, California politicians have kind of looked the other way," Kim said. "People who are actually trying to expose this fraud — they called them crazy."

"But they're not laughing anymore," she added.

Kim sharply criticized proposed California legislation she referred to as the "Stop Nick Shirley Act," claiming Democrats are targeting citizen journalists rather than criminals.

"They want to put people who are actually exposing what's going on in California behind jail," Kim said. "That is the insanity."

Kim promoted her "No More Scams Act," legislation she said would strengthen anti-fraud enforcement efforts launched under President Donald Trump's administration and Vice President JD Vance's anti-fraud task force.

"We need to go after the fraudsters," Kim said. "Let's get behind independent journalists who are actually exposing the fraud that is happening in my home state of California."

Kim said California voters are growing frustrated with Democrat leadership under Gov. Gavin Newsom as Republicans look to make the governor's race competitive despite the state's heavy Democrat voter registration advantage.

"We've seen enough," Kim said of Democrat candidates battling on the debate stage. "They don't have the vision but to blame somebody who is not there — and that's Donald Trump."

Kim argued Republicans must unite behind a credible statewide candidate capable of capitalizing on voter anger over crime, homelessness, housing costs, and businesses fleeing California.

She specifically criticized Newsom for spending excessive time outside California while wildfires ravaged parts of the state.

"We had 17,000 people receiving evacuation notices while the wildfires are burning through Southern California, and where is he? Out of state in Washington, D.C.," Kim said. "Maybe auditioning for the next LinkedIn profile?"

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