Independent journalist Nick Shirley captured a disturbing scene Wednesday night in Sacramento, where senior California Assembly staffer Terry Schanz—officially listed as chief of staff to Democratic Assemblywoman Tina McKinnor—transformed a legitimate inquiry about pending legislation into a torrent of crude sexual insults and printed flyers.

The video shows Schanz repeatedly making explicit claims about Shirley, distributing stacks of flyers to pedestrians, and escalating his taunts after Shirley challenged him over AB 2624, the bill critics have dubbed the “Stop Nick Shirley Act.” While Shirley alleged Schanz used public resources to print the flyers, the footage confirms he carried and distributed them but does not independently prove their origin or equipment.

Schanz holds a formal position under California State Assembly payroll records dated May 31: a full-time chief of staff in McKinnor’s Capitol office with a monthly salary of $17,319. This makes him a senior taxpayer-funded government employee, not an outside agitator. Crucially, he is not the chief of staff for the entire California State Assembly—a distinction that fails to justify his conduct.

The confrontation occurred during Shirley’s investigation into AB 2624, which would establish address-confidentiality protections for immigration service workers documenting threats or violence starting October 1, 2027. The bill also includes civil remedies for violations involving imminent harm or reasonable fear of safety. Critics argue it risks chilling investigations into taxpayer-funded immigration services, while supporters claim it shields vulnerable workers from doxxing and harassment.

California Legislative Information shows the bill advanced through a decisive process: passed by the Assembly 57-19 on May 26, amended by the Senate, and pending final concurrence in August. Yet as of publication, Schanz and McKinnor’s office had not publicly addressed Shirley’s allegations regarding the flyers.

The incident reveals a stark contrast between California’s legislative process and its political culture. A state-paid chief of staff answering questions with sexual aggression and printed materials—rather than policy dialogue—is not an argument about public safety or accountability. It is the behavior of a system that prioritizes ridicule over responsibility, offering a brutally honest glimpse into how officials handle scrutiny they prefer to avoid.