California Assemblyman Carl DeMaio threatens lawsuit over Gavin Newsom law he says targets citizen journalism

California Assemblyman Carl DeMaio said he plans to file a lawsuit challenging a new California law from Gov. Gavin Newsom, arguing the measure effectively criminalizes citizen journalism. DeMaio’s remarks, made in connection with an effort he described as seeking accountability for a broader set of alleged wrongdoing, centered on concerns that the state’s policy could chill or expose ordinary residents who capture and share news events without professional media credentials.

In a report published Aug. 30, DeMaio said he intends to pursue litigation against Newsom over the new law. The claim presented by DeMaio is that the statute’s effect is not limited to traditional news organizations or regulated entities, but instead reaches the activities of private individuals who gather and disseminate information.

The same report also described DeMaio as acting on behalf of, or in coordination with, a whistleblower, with DeMaio portraying the alleged misconduct as a “monumental” fraud scandal. The report said the whistleblower asked President Donald Trump for help, framing the request as seeking federal attention or intervention related to the alleged fraud.

DeMaio’s planned lawsuit, as described in the report, is positioned as a response to what he views as a government expansion of criminal enforcement into the realm of civic reporting. DeMaio argued that the law’s approach raises legal and constitutional concerns, including questions about how far states may go in regulating speech and information-gathering through criminal statutes.

The Fox report did not provide detailed language of the statute or identify the specific legal theories DeMaio will advance in court. It also did not provide details about the alleged fraud scandal that the whistleblower raised beyond the characterization as “monumental” and the request for Trump’s assistance.

As of Aug. 30, the report describes DeMaio’s intention to sue as forthcoming, not as a filed case with a docket number or specific court. The practical effect of the dispute therefore depends on the law’s final implementation status, any pending rulemaking or enforcement posture by California officials, and the timing of litigation.

If DeMaio files suit, the case would likely turn on issues such as statutory interpretation, the law’s scope, and whether its application to citizen reporting is constitutionally permissible. Separate from the state lawsuit, the report’s account of a whistleblower request for federal help would depend on whether any federal agency takes action, such as initiating an investigation, pursuing enforcement, or coordinating with state authorities.