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Charlie Kirk case stalls as accused shooter delays plea and eyes media limits

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:00:59 -0400

PROVO, Utah – Charlie Kirk's suspected assassin Tyler Robinson returned to court Friday as his attorneys push to exclude news cameras and delay next month's preliminary hearing months after he allegedly killed the conservative icon in front of thousands at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

His attorneys said they have not had enough time to go over the evidence and prepare, while prosecutors said a delay is unnecessary and laid out four categories that the evidence will be broken into. The defense also argued that allowing cameras in the trial would hinder Robinson's ability to receive a fair trial, while prosecutors combated that claim.

Following the lengthy hearing, Utah 4th District Court Judge Tony Graf did not provide a ruling. He plans to issue a response during a hearing on May 8 at 3 p.m. MT on whether cameras will be allowed in the courtroom during the trial and whether the preliminary hearing will be delayed.

Robinson was seen briefly smiling after Graf's decision.

TYLER ROBINSON JUDGE UNSEALS ATF REPORT IN ASSASSINATION OF CHARLIE KIRK

Graf also addressed the gag order in the case after the defense filed a motion this week asking him to hold two Utah County prosecutors in civil contempt for allegedly violating the court’s gag order.

Graf warned attorneys that violating the court’s publicity order could bring sanctions ranging from fines to jail time to removal from the case.

WATCH: Judge warns lawyers about public comments in Tyler Robinson case

Robinson arrived at the courthouse on Friday morning in an armored vehicle with a police escort. Fourteen SWAT members also arrived as snipers set up on surrounding rooftops.

WATCH: Charlie Kirk's alleged killer arrives in court

Robinson's parents were in court, along with other family members. They were emotional at times as media coverage of the case played in court.

Defense attorney Richard Novak began the hearing by arguing that Robinson’s preliminary hearing must be delayed because the prosecution has failed to turn over critical digital DNA data held by the FBI and ATF. Novak said that proceeding without this "raw data" violates Robinson’s constitutional rights and prevents the defense from verifying the reliability of the state’s scientific evidence.

"We're not asking somebody to go looking for a needle in a haystack," Novak said. "We know that these data files exist because we have summary FBI and ATF reports summarizing the data analysis that go all the way back to September."

During Novak's opening statement, Robinson's parents, Matt and Amber, listened quietly; his mother fidgeted in her seat directly behind him.

Prosecutor Ryan McBride laid out a massive "mountain of proof" against the suspected assassin, arguing that a six-month delay requested by the defense is unnecessary because the state’s evidence already far exceeds the legal bar for trial.

McBride identified four distinct pillars of evidence: surveillance from Utah Valley University, circumstantial evidence tying him to the rifle, confessions and DNA evidence.

The surveillance evidence includes footage of a "limping" Robinson with a rifle down his pants, McBride said, adding that it was "clearly him." The evidence includes matching political "etchings" on ammunition found at both the scene and Robinson's home, and multiple written confessions stating he "took the opportunity" to kill Kirk, McBride said.

He further detailed DNA matches from both the FBI and ATF on the weapon and a nearby screwdriver, arguing that these "astronomical odds" of a match create a mountain of proof that far exceeds the legal requirement for probable cause.

The prosecution's narrative – including McBride saying that Robinson was spotted wearing shorts at UVU – met immediate resistance from the gallery, where Robinson's mother, Amber, was seen leaning over to a family member to whisper, "He was not wearing shorts," as McBride described surveillance video from the University of Utah that allegedly showed Robinson.

"Justice delayed is justice denied," McBride said, arguing that a lengthy continuance would infringe on the victim's right to a speedy trial while witness memories fade.

Novak characterized the state's production as "gigantic and voluminous," telling the court that his team has not finished reading the thousands of pages of discovery already sitting on their desks.

"Have we had a reasonable time to do so? No," Novak told the judge.

Graf questioned how the state’s proposal to use "forensic hearsay reports" without providing underlying data could satisfy the "heightened standard of reliability" required by the Eighth Amendment in a capital case.

"I don't think that just because it's a capital case, you throw, you know, the baby out with the bathwater here," McBride said, arguing that while the court should be rigorous, the rules of evidence do not change because the death penalty is at stake.

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Following a short break, defense attorney Staci Visser told Graf that they need "at least four months to finish processing" the evidence that they've been given. During the defense's bid for more time, Amber Robinson was nodding her head in agreement.

"We're dealing with dozens of law enforcement agencies, hundreds of reports," she said.

Robinson's lead defense attorney, Nester, argued that she needs additional time, revealing that the defense has not yet seen the suspected murder weapon, and they have not been able to get into Robinson's phone.

"We still have never seen the gun. The gun is at Quantico, so we've never been able to look at the gun. I actually think that's really important," she said. "I also have not been able to get into my client's phone, the electronics that we have, required an expert to because they're so massive, we had to all get these huge hard drives shipped to us from our digital expert. I have not looked at my client's phone, and that concerns me, especially because the states indicated they may call individuals, uniquely connected to my client."

Nester noted that she had been working on another trial, notably the recent trial for Kouri Richins, the Utah children’s book author accused of poisoning her husband with a fentanyl-laced drink before publishing a book about grief for their children. Richins was found guilty in March.

Graf has already allowed a news camera to be present for the hearing, under the condition that it does not record any private conversations or the faces of Robinson's family, which is expected to sit in the front row of the courtroom.

Defense attorney Michael Burt informed the court that the defense would call two witnesses – social psychologist Bryan Edelman and psychology professor Christine Ruva – to support their motion, condensing the original plan for three witnesses to save time. Edelman has worked on a number of major cases, including playing a role in Bryan Kohberger's successful motion for a change of venue in the Idaho student murders and the trial of Buffalo supermarket mass shooter Payton Gendron.

Edelman said that the news coverage on the Kirk assassination and Robinson was widespread and included "sensationalized" media content.

During Edelman's presentation, the court heard several clips from NBC News, ABC News, CNN, KSTU-TV and Fox News.

During the ABC News clip, Amber Robinson teared up and held a tissue. Tyler Robinson sat watching, with no visible reaction. As the court moved to watch the KSTU-TV segment, he appeared to begin fidgeting, with one of his hands moving and rubbing his fingers back and forth.

Burt presented several declarations from witnesses expressing privacy concerns, including a prosecution witness who objected to being televised.

"There are over 3,000 witnesses," Burt said, noting the difficulty of surveying every individual. "We have not been able to survey any of them except the two that we're providing to the court in terms of whether they have privacy concerns."

Cole Christiansen, an investigator with the Utah County Attorney’s Office, testified that national media coverage of the case has not been one-sided. When asked by state prosecutors if the electronic coverage was generally negative toward Robinson, Christiansen replied that the tone "went both ways."

"I think the tone of it went both ways. I think some of the tone of it was negative toward the prosecution and some of it was negative toward the defense as well. Some of it was negative toward Erika Kirk, and some of it was negative toward Charlie Kirk," he said.

Next, Ruva, a professor and campus chair of psychology at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee who researches jury decision-making and pretrial publicity, discussed the impacts of negative pretrial publicity.

"What I reviewed was predominantly anti-defendant," she said.

In their closing arguments, Burt argued that the defense is concerned about the media – whether it be news outlets or social media creators – being focused on profit, rather than on journalism.

"I think the court has to look at whether it serves an educational purpose. Is it? And that's what journalism is – you're reporting the news, you're not creating it," he said. "You are reporting on what's happening in court. You're not making arguments for the prosecution to show that Mr. Robinson is guilty. And one of the things we've tried to demonstrate in the hearing today is that, at least, the electronic media, the predominant theme there, is advancing the prosecution's side of the case. It's not educational in nature. It certainly is affected by profit motivation."

The state argued that they "strongly support open and transparent proceedings" in Robinson's pending trial.

"We strongly support open and transparent proceedings in this case, so that the public will trust the process here," Grunander said in closing arguments. "There are conspiracy theories that abound. There are questions being raised, and the best antidote for falsehood is the truth in accuracy. It's the actual real proceedings. And that's why we favor opening this court and allowing the cameras in the courtroom."

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Erika Kirk, Charlie's 37-year-old widow and the designated victim's representative, has asked the court to safeguard meaningful media access as the case plays out. Two groups of local and national media outlets, one of which includes Fox News, have also asked the court to allow cameras to remain.

Robinson is accused of shooting Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in September 2025. He allegedly climbed to a rooftop across the courtyard from where Kirk was speaking and fired a single shot from his grandfather's Mauser rifle.

Bystander video shows the bullet struck Kirk in the neck — in front of a crowd of roughly 3,000 people. He died from the injury. Surveillance video shows a man in dark clothing dropping down from the far side of the building running off campus.

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Prosecutors have said campus police found marks left behind on the gravel rooftop moments after the shooting "consistent with a sniper having lain [there] — impressions in the gravel potentially left by the elbows, knees and feet of a person in a prone shooting position." They also found the suspected murder weapon in the woods in the direction the suspect ran.

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Prosecutors have said that text messages between Robinson and his romantic partner, Lance Twiggs, allegedly discuss wanting to retrieve the weapon.

"Stuck in Orem for a little while longer yet," Robinson allegedly wrote in the hours after the murder. "Shouldn't be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still."

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Twiggs is cooperating with investigators and has not been charged with a crime.

Robinson could face the death penalty if convicted of the top charge against him, aggravated murder. He is also accused of felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, witness tampering and committing a violent offense in the presence of a child.

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Kirk, 31, was a married father of two.

A preliminary hearing, in which prosecutors will have to show probable cause for bringing the case, is scheduled for next month. It's already been put off repeatedly in the wake of Robinson's arrest in September 2025.

Fox News' Nikki DiRico contributed to this report.

Singer D4vd arrested and held without bail in case tied to teen found dead in Tesla: Police

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:55:21 -0400

Singer David Burke, known as D4vd, was arrested Thursday in connection with the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose body was found in September 2025 inside the trunk of an abandoned Tesla in Los Angeles.

"Detectives from Los Angeles Police Department, Robbery-Homicide Division have arrested David Burke, a 21-year-old resident of Los Angeles, for the murder of Celeste Rivas," the LAPD said in a social media post. "Burke is being held without bail."

In another post, police said, "The case will be presented to the District Attorney’s office on Monday for filing consideration."

Until Thursday, authorities had not publicly named D4vd as a suspect in the case, though in February he was the target of a Los Angeles County grand jury investigation into Hernandez’s death.

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The Associated Press reported in February that Hernandez’s body was found decomposed in an abandoned Tesla registered to D4vd and towed from the Hollywood Hills, citing court documents.

Prosecutors described the Houston-born alt-pop singer as the target of the investigation in grand jury subpoenas issued Jan. 15, seeking testimony from three of his relatives.

The Associated Press obtained the once-sealed documents, which were made public after the singer’s mother, father and brother appealed the subpoenas in Texas.

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The documents state: "Target may be involved in having committed the following criminal offenses against the laws of the State of California, to wit: One count of Murder."

The body of Hernandez was found Sept. 8, a day after she would have turned 15. She had been reported missing in 2024 as a 13-year-old seventh-grader from her hometown of Lake Elsinore, about 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Authorities say she was 14 when she was killed, according to court documents.

The subpoena states that investigators searching a 2023 Tesla Model Y at a tow yard found a cadaver bag "covered with insects and a strong odor of decay."

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"Detectives partially unzipped the bag and observed a decomposed head and torso," the subpoena states. Investigators from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the scene.

"Upon removing the cadaver bag from the front storage compartment, it was discovered the arms and legs had been severed from the body," the document says. "A second black bag was discovered underneath the cadaver bag. Upon opening the second bag, the dismembered body parts were discovered."

The singer was on a U.S. tour at the time and continued performing after the body was discovered. He later canceled the remaining shows, along with a planned European tour, as reports linking him to the case gained wider attention.

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D4vd built a following among Gen Z fans with his blend of indie rock, R&B and lo-fi pop. He gained traction on TikTok in 2022 with "Romantic Homicide," which climbed to No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. He later signed with Darkroom and Interscope Records and released Petals to Thorns and The Lost Petals in 2023.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Tyler Robinson judge unseals ATF report in assassination of Charlie Kirk

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:34:26 -0400

The Utah judge overseeing the case against Charlie Kirk's accused assassin Tyler Robinson has unsealed a ballistics report from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that could not conclusively match a bullet fragment to the suspected murder weapon but confirmed a match with the spent casing.

Prosecutors have alleged that separate testing found DNA consistent with Robinson's on the gun, on the towel and on three of the four rounds inside.

The report's conclusions had already been made public in prior court proceedings, but the document itself is now available from the court, and it includes some new details.

The tested material includes a "deformed/damaged" piece of the bullet jacket as well as four lead fragments.

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It was attached, in part, as an exhibit alongside a defense motion filed under seal on Jan. 9, asking the judge to block the government from further testing until a defense expert had a chance to examine and photograph the evidence.

Judge Tony Graf ruled that there was no basis to keep the filing classified, finding that it did not contain any "private or inflammatory information."

An appendix to the ATF report explained that "inconclusive" findings mean that was "an examiner's opinion that there is an insufficient quality and/or quantity of individual characteristics to identify or exclude."

Two law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation told Fox News last month that the reason the ATF was unable to match the bullet to the rifle is because when the bullet impacted Kirk’s body it hit bone and broke on impact.

Experts said this is not uncommon.

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Read the filing:

"It is not a win for the defense," said retired FBI supervisory agent Jason Pack. "It is simply a gap the prosecution is now working to address by bringing in the FBI with more advanced technology."

Ballistics are rarely the only piece of evidence in a homicide case, he added. And the inconclusive finding only applied to the fragment, not the casing or the rifle found near the scene.

"The defense here is doing exactly what good defense lawyers are supposed to do, protecting their client’s ability to challenge evidence before it gets further altered," Pack told Fox News Digital. "That is not a sign the prosecution’s case is weak."

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The ATF also examined a .30-06 cartridge case that investigators wrote "was identified as having been fired in the Exhibit 1 rifle." That's the suspected murder weapon, Robinson's Mauser. The agent identified damaged fragments as .30-caliber class, which is not inconsistent with Robinson’s rifle, even though it wasn't enough for a conclusive match.

"We are a long way from trial, and the public should pump the brakes before drawing big conclusions from a single pre-trial motion about a single bullet fragment," Pack added.

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Gruesome video shows the bullet struck Kirk in the neck in front of a crowd of roughly 3,000 people. He died from the injury.

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Police recovered the rifle wrapped in a blanket in a patch of woods near campus. And prosecutors have said that text messages between Robinson and his romantic partner, Lance Twiggs, allegedly discuss wanting to retrieve the rifle.

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"Stuck in Orem for a little while longer yet," Robinson allegedly wrote in the hours after the murder. "Shouldn't be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still."

Twiggs is cooperating with investigators and has not been charged with a crime.

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Robinson is due in court Friday for a hearing on his motion to exclude news cameras from future proceedings.

He could face the death penalty if convicted of the top charge against him, aggravated murder.

Turning Point spokesperson describes 'chilling moment' Erika Kirk was sidelined from JD Vance event

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:50:55 -0400

Turning Point USA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet described the moment that threats forced Erika Kirk to pull out of a University of Georgia event, calling the situation "a really unfortunate experience."

"To see the security team tell us, 'We cannot guarantee your safety, we recommend that you don't do this,' was a really chilling moment for all of us to kind of have to internalize and experience and realize that Erika Kirk['s] children are one parent away from being orphans," Kolvet said Wednesday.

"And sometimes you just have to say, 'Listen, what's most important is your safety, is your security and your children, your family. Let your team handle this. Let us do what we can do."

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Kirk was scheduled to appear alongside Vice President JD Vance at the Turning Point USA event in Athens, Georgia, on Tuesday, but ultimately withdrew following the threats.

Kolvet sat alongside Vance at the event, standing in for Kirk.

While "horrified" by the development, Kolvet said he was "honored" to "stand in and pinch hit."

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"I think it's the first time that we've ever had to make that decision in Turning Point history," he said.

"But everything that happened with Charlie, obviously his assassination, we're still grieving that, and you saw what happened with Savanah Hernandez, one of our TPUSA Frontlines reporters in Minneapolis," he added, referring to an attack on Hernandez earlier this week.

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Kolvet said the recent incidents have heightened security concerns for the organization, emphasizing the need to prioritize safety amid what he described as an increasingly volatile environment.

Kirk addressed her absence in a post on X, writing: "I was so looking forward to tonight’s event at the @universityofga with our Vice President @JDVance, but after all our family has been through, I take my security team’s recommendations extremely seriously. Thank you to our amazing Georgia chapter for your support. God bless you all!"

Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner contributed to this report.

Tyler Robinson's defense calls on expert from Kohberger case to argue bias in jury pool

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:08:48 -0400

The defense of Charlie Kirk's accused assassin, Tyler Robinson, is expected to call on an expert witness who also worked for Bryan Kohberger's legal team at Friday's hearing on their motion to kick news cameras out of the courtroom, according to court filings.

California-based trial consultant Bryan Edelman, who has a Ph.D. in social psychology, conducted a telephone survey for the defense and reported his findings on March 13.

"It is Dr. Edelman’s opinion that the modern internet and social media ecosystem — especially algorithmic curation and personalization — has fundamentally altered how news is consumed and makes local, high-profile publicity substantially harder to avoid for residents of the locality where the events giving rise to the case occurred and the case is being tried," Robinson's attorneys wrote in a filing last week.

ALLEGED CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN TYLER ROBINSON'S FINGERPRINTS, PALM PRINT FOUND NEAR ROOFTOP

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Edelman's testimony is expected to delve into pretrial publicity and public opinion connected to the case against Robinson, who faces the potential death penalty if convicted of aggravated murder and Kirk's shooting death.

Robinson, 22, is accused of firing the fatal shot from a rooftop at Utah Valley University as Kirk, a 31-year-old father of two, spoke to a crowd of about 3,000 in the campus' central courtyard.

In a summary of Edelman's opinions filed with the court, the defense suggested that social media algorithms promote prominent local news, making it harder for potential jurors to avoid pretrial coverage of a case, including online commentary.

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"Experimental research indicates that hostile or uncivil comments can affect readers’ interpretations and perceptions," the defense wrote in the new filing. "In practical terms, the same news item may be encountered alongside inflammatory commentary that can heighten emotional response and shape impressions beyond the factual content of the reporting."

Robinson's lawyers, Kathryn Nester, Michael Burt, Richard Novak and Staci Visser, also argued that pretrial publicity impacts the jury pool and can increase the likelihood of guilty verdicts. Judges are often tasked with balancing the public's right to access court proceedings and a defendant's right to a fair trial.

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Edelman also worked on a controversial juror questionnaire on behalf of Kohberger's legal team. It included questions that Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson alleged were aimed at tainting the jury pool in that case.

Multiple people contacted for the survey called police, raising concerns about violations of a gag order meant to protect details ahead of trial.

Judge John Judge, who was presiding over Kohberger's case at the time, called it "ironic" that the defense survey could have tainted the jury pool, rather than allegations from the prosecution.

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Mark Calzaretta, a jury consultant and founding partner at Magna Legal Services, told Fox News Digital previously that surveys are common practice when the defense is seeking a change of venue.

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Kohberger's push for a change of venue out of Latah County succeeded, but he ultimately pleaded guilty in Ada County to avoid the death penalty weeks before his trial was scheduled to begin last year.

Robinson's defense has already tried to have the Utah County Attorney's Office disqualified from the case over an alleged conflict of interest. Judge Tony Graf Jr. denied the request.

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Other high-profile cases Edelman has worked on include the murder trial of former Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke and Buffalo supermarket mass shooter Payton Gendron.

Edelman's testimony is also expected to include topics related from a declaration he filed in Gendron's pending federal case, demographics in Utah County, where Robinson's trial is expected to be held, and the fairness of the jury selection process.

Alleged Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson's fingerprints, palm print found near rooftop: report

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:09:44 -0400

Newly released search warrants in the case against Tyler Robinson, the Utah man accused of assassinating conservative icon Charlie Kirk in September, revealed more details about how investigators collected DNA and cellphone data placing him at the scene of the alleged shooting.

Investigators obtained DNA from "fingerprints and a smeared palm print in the vicinity of the northeast corner rooftop edge of the Losee Center building where Robinson dropped off the rooftop to the ground below," along with cellphone data showing Robinson’s location on Sept. 10, 2025, according to East Idaho News.

Additionally, a Google Maps route found on Robinson’s phone allegedly routed to an area near the Utah Valley University campus, the outlet reported.

TYLER ROBINSON PROSECUTORS SAY CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING TEXTS SHOW CONFUSION, NOT BIAS, TO REBUT CONFLICT CLAIM

The warrants also included a note Robinson allegedly left for his roommate, whom he was romantically involved with, shortly before the alleged assassination. Robinson referred to his partner, Lance Twiggs, as "Luna."

"Luna, if you are reading this per my text, then I am so sorry," the note reportedly said. "I left the house this morning on a mission, and set an auto text.

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"I am likely dead, or facing a lengthy prison sentence. I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I took it.

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"I don’t know if i will/have succeeded, but I had hoped to make it home to you. I wish we could have lived in a world where this did not feel necessary. I wish I could have stayed for you and lived our lives together.

"I lack the words to express how much I love you, and how very much you mean to me. Please try and find joy in this life. I love you, always, -Tyler," the letter continued, according to the outlet.

The warrant also reportedly revealed authorities' alleged timeline of events leading up to and immediately following Kirk's assassination.

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According to court documents previously obtained by Fox News Digital, Robinson arrived in Orem in a gray Dodge Challenger around 8:29 a.m. on the morning of the alleged shooting. He was captured on surveillance video from 11:50 a.m. to 11:53 a.m. entering the UVU campus through a tunnel under Campus Drive and checking his cell phone.

He was spotted on a camera located at the north side of UVU's Losee Center building walking with "a distinctive gait," believed to be due to the rifle allegedly concealed in his jeans, around 12:02 p.m.

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Approximately 13 minutes later, authorities said Robinson was spotted wearing dark clothing and climbing a staircase leading to a common area next to the Losee Center, before scaling a wall and crouching on a rooftop, the charging document previously said. He then waited several minutes before "running across the rooftop" and crouching into "a prone shooting position" with a direct line of sight to where Kirk was speaking.

At 12:23 p.m., as Kirk fielded a question during the campus event, a single gunshot rang out, striking the father of two in the neck. Surveillance footage captured Robinson allegedly fleeing the rooftop while carrying what appeared to be a rife, according to the documents.

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Robinson is charged with aggravated murder, among other counts, in the shooting of Kirk while Kirk was speaking at a Turning Point USA event on UVU’s campus last year.

Robinson has since pleaded not guilty to all charges, and prosecutors have vowed to seek the death penalty in the case.

Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.

Tyler Robinson defense asks court to bar cameras for next in-person hearing

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:13:57 -0400

Accused Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson filed a Sunday court motion to bar all still cameras, video cameras and microphones from a critical hearing on April 17.

On that day, Robinson is scheduled to be present in court, and the state and defense are expected to make a flurry of motions.

Judge Tony Graf has not made a ruling on whether to ban electronic media throughout the course of the trial.

Fox News Legal Analyst Donna Rotunno, host of the podcast "Crime & Justice with Donna Rotunno," said Graf should "take control" and make a definitive ruling on media in the courtroom throughout the rest of the proceedings.

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She said the defense asking only to ban electronic media for the April 17 hearing could be indicative of a larger strategy, and that they may ask to bar media on a hearing-by-hearing basis. That way, if Graf rules against them, they will only lose the motion for one specific hearing, and not for all the proceedings moving forward.

Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, has pleaded for cameras to be allowed during the trial.

"There were cameras all over my husband when he was murdered," she told Fox News' Jesse Watters in an exclusive interview in November. "There have been cameras all over my friends and family mourning. There have been cameras all over me, analyzing my every move, analyzing my every smile, my every tear. We deserve to have cameras in there."

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"Why not be transparent?" Kirk continued. "There's nothing to hide. I know there's not because I've seen what the case is built on."

Prosecutors also filed a response to a motion filed by Robinson's team last week, asking the court to push a May 18 preliminary hearing back. The defense is asking to push back the preliminary hearing until expert discovery is complete, and prosecutors argue that the hearing should be held on the scheduled date.

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The state argues that the defense is trying to confer upon itself rights during the preliminary stage of the trial that it is not entitled to until the actual trial itself, and that discovery is meant to be reserved for the trial, not preliminary proceedings.

Rotunno agrees that the defense has been given enough discovery leeway in the preliminary stage of the court proceedings, and that the hearing should remain scheduled for May 18.

Experts debunk Tyler Robinson's ballistics claim: 'Unable to identify is not the same as ruled out'

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:15:40 -0400

Facing what appears to be an extensive body of evidence, attorneys for accused Charlie Kirk killer Tyler Robinson signaled in a new filing they may call an ATF agent to the stand — if his inconclusive ballistic findings undercut the case.

"Regarding the firearm evidence, the defense has been provided with an ATF summary report which indicates that the ATF was unable to identify the bullet recovered at autopsy to the rifle allegedly tied to Mr. Robinson," Robinson's attorneys wrote in a motion to vacate or postpone their client's preliminary hearing. "Although the State has not indicated an intent to produce this report at the preliminary hearing, the defense may very well decide to offer the testimony of the ATF firearm analyst as exculpatory evidence."

The brief line appears to indicate that the defense doesn't think prosecutors can prove the bullet that killed Kirk came from the Mauser rifle recovered near the crime scene, which prosecutors allege had Robinson's DNA on it and had been given to him by his father.

But experts say inconclusive testing doesn't mean the match has been ruled out, and investigators have compiled other evidence in the case — including allegations that Robinson confessed or implied guilt to family and friends.

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"It's not uncommon for a round that went through a human body, especially if it traveled through tissue, to say conclusively that it's tied to a specific firearm, because by nature the projectile is supposed to transfer all of its kinetic energy, and it often disintegrates into fragments and whatnot," said Bernard Zapor, a former ATF special agent in charge and faculty associate at Arizona State University. "The fact that it went through several bone structures, there was going to be very little left."

As a result, it would be unfair to conclude that the bullet hadn't been fired out of the rifle police recovered nearby, experts told Fox News Digital.

"Unable to identify is not the same as ruled out," said retired FBI supervisor agent Jason Pack. "That’s a finding of inconclusiveness, not exoneration."

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Two law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation later told Fox News that the reason the ATF was unable to match the bullet to the rifle is because when the bullet impacted Kirk’s body it hit bone and broke on impact.

The forensic pathologist pulled fragments out of Kirk’s body, not an intact bullet. The sources said it is impossible to do ballistics analysis on a bullet fragment.

The testing did positively confirm that the spent shell casing found at the scene matched the suspected murder weapon.

"That’s a pretty significant piece of evidence for the prosecution," Pack said. "And pretty damning for the defense."

According to the Utah County Prosecutor's Office, Robinson arrived at Utah Valley University around 11:51 a.m. on Sept. 10, 2025, the day of Kirk's murder. They allege he walked in through a tunnel under Campus Drive and climbed a staircase to the rooftop of the Losee Center, which overlooks the courtyard where Kirk was speaking.

At 12:20 p.m., a single bullet struck Kirk in the neck. Prosecutors have said campus police found marks left behind on the gravel rooftop moments after the shooting "consistent with a sniper having lain [there] — impressions in the gravel potentially left by the elbows, knees and feet of a person in a prone shooting position."

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Police later found the alleged murder weapon wrapped in a towel and hidden in a small patch of woods just off campus. Crime lab testing allegedly found DNA consistent with Robinson's on the gun, on the towel and on three of the four rounds inside.

"To me that’s not problematic, but obviously the defense is gonna make big hay out of that, because they want to have the firearm removed from the case," Zapor said. "If the shell casing has his DNA on it, [prosecutors] are solid."

There are a number of reasons why the fired bullet may not have been a conclusive match, experts told Fox News Digital, and additional lab testing is pending.

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"Nobody outside the ATF lab knows why they couldn’t make the match yet because the defense still hasn’t received the underlying case file and protocols," Pack told Fox News Digital. "Was the bullet too damaged? Was it a methodology question? That answer isn’t in the record right now."

Other evidence in the case includes a text message conversation prosecutors allege Robinson had with his roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs, after the shooting.

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Robinson allegedly discussed wanting to retrieve a rifle before returning home from Orem, which is about a four-hour drive from where he lived in Washington County. Twiggs is cooperating with investigators and has not been charged with a crime.

In another message, Robinson allegedly wrote he was "stuck in Orem for a little while longer yet. Shouldn't be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still. To be honest I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you."

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"You weren't the one who did it right????" the roommate texted back.

"I am, I'm sorry," Robinson allegedly replied.

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Robinson faces a top charge of aggravated murder, which carries the potential death penalty upon conviction. He is also accused of felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, witness tampering and committing a violent offense in the presence of a child.

While Robinson's defense is seeking to put off his preliminary hearing for another six months, Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, has filed a notice with the court invoking her right to seek a speedy trial as a victim under Utah law.

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Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking at an event as part of a national speaking tour and sponsored by the campus chapter of the organization, which promotes conservative principles among students across the country.

He was a married father of two.

Fox News' Jake Gibson contributed to this report.

Alleged Charlie Kirk assassin's defense team reveals who will be called to testify: court docs

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:59:19 -0400

Attorneys for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating conservative icon Charlie Kirk, have revealed who prosecutors intend to call to the stand and also asked the court to delay the preliminary hearing.

The filing, made by defense attorneys on Friday, states that prosecutors intend to call Robinson's parents and his roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs, to testify at the preliminary hearing. Robinson's defense team is also asking the judge for a minimum six-month delay for the preliminary hearing, which is currently scheduled for May 18.

Robinson's defense team said that defense attorneys received over 600,000 files from prosecutors during a meeting on March 12, which she says will take time to review. She also noted that the discovery isn't complete yet.

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"Discovery in this case is incomplete, voluminous, and the processing of it is complex," the defense team wrote.

One of the defense's experts, a forensic biologist, said she'd need six months to review the evidence.

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The filing by Robinson's defense attorneys doesn't request that the next court hearing on April 17 be pushed back. That hearing will be focused on public and media access to future court hearings, which includes a defense motion to ban all cameras from the courtroom.

Robinson's defense team plans to show evidence they believe contains "harmful and prejudicial media coverage of this case thus far."

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"While there is simply not enough time to present all of what is referenced in the ‘motion to exclude cameras,’ the compilation anticipated will highlight the most egregious and most concerning media coverage impacting Mr. Robinson’s case," his attorneys wrote.

During a Feb. 24 hearing, Judge Tony Graf denied a motion from Robinson's lawyers that would have removed prosecutors from the case.

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Robinson's defense team tried arguing there was a conflict of interest because a prosecutor's daughter was at the event at Utah Valley University when Kirk was shot and killed.

Graf, in his response, said the court was "unpersuaded" by the defense team's argument of an "appearance of bias" from prosecutors.

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"Because defendant has not established a factual basis for a finding of conflict of interest or an objective appearance of impropriety, rising to a constitutional concern, his motion is respectfully denied," Graf said. "In sum, the defendant has not shown that there is a significant risk that Mr. Gray's loyalty to his daughter has or will materially limit representation of the state. Nor has defendant demonstrated that his due process rights are compromised by the continued prosecution of this case by the Utah County Attorney's Office."

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Robinson faces multiple charges after he allegedly killed Kirk on Sept. 10, 2025, which include aggravated murder. His charges are death penalty eligible.

Fox News’ Michael Ruiz, Stepheny Price, Julia Bonavita and Peter D’Abrosca contributed to the report.

Judge rules on motion to seal evidence in Charlie Kirk murder case

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 06:00:51 -0400

Tyler Robinson, the Utah man accused of assassinating Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk in September 2025, was dealt a procedural blow on Friday when Judge Tony Graf Jr. ruled against the defense’s motion to restrict access to certain court filings ahead of an upcoming evidentiary hearing.

"In balance, the defendant has not provided a sufficient basis for the court to find that the interests favoring closure outweigh the interest favoring an open proceeding and the presumptive right to access," Judge Graf said Friday.

"Moreover, as a Utah Supreme Court recognized, even in highly publicized cases, a defendant's right to a fair trial can be protected through the regular time-honored process for selecting jurors, like enlarging the voir dire of potential jurors, utilizing a detailed juror questionnaire and conducting a thorough voir dire of potential jurors."

Additionally, Judge Graf denied the defense team’s motion to ban cameras from the courtroom during Robinson’s hearing, but added Robinson’s defense must file a redacted version of the motion to exclude cameras by March 30.

TYLER ROBINSON DEFENSE PRESSES CONFLICT CLAIM AS EXPERT HINTS MOVE COULD RESHAPE DEATH PENALTY FIGHT

Earlier in the hearing, Robinson's attorneys had argued their motion to keep certain evidence out of the public’s view, citing the potential inability to select an impartial jury in the high-profile case.

"So what we're talking about is releasing preliminary evidence into the public sphere that has the potential to impact jurors," defense attorney Staci Visser said. "And it is important enough that we are concerned that it will sway people's opinions one way or the other."

"I want to make clear that our concern here is with selecting an impartial jury," Visser added. "Really it goes both ways. Whether the evidence is good for my client or bad for my client, whatever it is, it makes it harder to find impartial jurors if they are entrenched in an opinion about our client's guilt or innocence either way."

Robinson, 22, faces a potential death penalty if convicted of killing Kirk at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.

He appeared in court wearing a blue dress shirt and tie, and could be seen occasionally taking notes during Friday's hearing.

"Specifically, Mr. Robinson seeks to take evidence in a closed setting regarding the unfairly prejudicial and misleading media coverage and the improper statements of government officials in order to avoid republicizing the same. Mr. Robinson also asks this court to take evidence regarding the privacy violations detailed in the ‘motion to exclude cameras’ in a closed setting, to, again, avoid reiterating the violative material," according to defense filings.

Robinson’s defense team is also seeking to ban cameras and microphones, arguing media coverage could prejudice a jury.

The defense team also asked to close portions of the April 17 hearing to the media, arguing prejudicial media coverage interferes with Robinson’s right to a fair trial.

"We'll show both that we have categories of prejudice that are recognized as presumptively prejudicial, and we'll show that beyond that, the overall picture of this case is one of extreme prejudicial pretrial publicity that justifies the kind of relief we're asking for," defense attorney Michael Burt said.

At the April 17 hearing, the defense team plans to showcase evidence regarding "harmful and prejudicial media coverage of this case thus far," the defense said.

ACCUSED CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN TYLER ROBINSON TRIES TO HIDE FROM ‘DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD’ OF PUBLICITY: EXPERT

However, the prosecution looked to hit back at the defense teams' motion to restrict media access in Robinson's pretrial hearings while asserting the public's right to knowledge in the case.

"We are not media lawyers, we are not representing the interests of the media," Utah County Attorney’s Office general counsel Christopher Ballard said. "Our client is the people of the state of Utah who do have an interest in the public nature of these proceedings. But whether any particular document in this case is public or private is really of secondary concern to the state here. We're not trying to represent any kind of media interest, and I think it's improper for the defense to suggest that."

Previously at Robinson’s Feb. 24 hearing, Graf denied the motion to disqualify the Utah County Attorney’s Office.

The defense team argued there was a conflict of interest because a prosecutor's daughter was present at the shooting at UVU.

Graf, however, said the court was "unpersuaded" by the argument of an "appearance of bias" from the prosecution team.

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The next hearing on April 17 will address the defense’s motion to exclude all cameras from the courtroom, and a preliminary hearing is set for May 18-20.

Fox News’ Michael Ruiz, Stepheny Price, Julia Bonavita, Peter D’Abrosca and Adam Sabes contributed to this report.

Judge dismisses defense push to remove prosecutors from Charlie Kirk murder case

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 06:00:23 -0500

The presiding judge in the case against Tyler Robinson, accused of assassinating conservative icon Charlie Kirk last September, ruled that county prosecutors can remain on the case after a challenge by defense attorneys.

Judge Tony Graf said the court was "unpersuaded" that there was an "appearance of bias."

Robinson's defense team had argued that the state has a conflict of interest since one of the prosecutors' children was present at the Sept. 10 event at Utah Valley University where Kirk was killed.

CHARLIE KIRK'S WIDOW ERIKA KIRK DEMANDS SPEEDY TRIAL, ALLEGING 'UNDUE DELAY' FROM TYLER ROBINSON DEFENSE

There have been two prior hearings on the matter.

On Feb. 3, defense attorney Richard Novak questioned Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray in order to pinpoint when the prosecution determined it would pursue the death penalty against Robinson, which was publicly announced shortly after his arrest.

The court then heard testimony from an unnamed senior prosecutor, identified only as "Prosecutor A," who described the office’s internal handling of the case and the decision to disclose the child’s presence to the defense.

The prosecutor testified there was no recollection of a specific conversation with Gray about how to proceed because of the child’s presence, but acknowledged it was routine for Gray to consult senior prosecutors in death penalty cases.

A PROSECUTOR’S CHILD WITNESSED CHARLIE KIRK’S ASSASSINATION — CAN HE TAKE PART IN THE CASE?

The prosecutor testified Gray expressed early on that he intended to seek the death penalty and wanted that decision announced at the same time charges were filed — earlier than is typical, when such notices often come after a preliminary hearing.

The state's position remained that there was no conflict of interest with the prosecutor whose child witnessed the shooting, but even if there was, it wouldn't affect the entire prosecutorial team. The state argued in previous filings that thousands of other people witnessed the shooting and that the child in question did not have a direct line of sight to the shooter.

During Tuesday's hearing, Graf said that defense attorneys did not prove that the issue is limiting Robinson's due process.

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"In sum, the defendant has not shown that there is a significant risk that Mr. Gray's loyalty to his daughter has or will materially limit representation of the state. Nor has defendant demonstrated that his due process rights are compromised by the continued prosecution of this case by the Utah County Attorney's Office," he said.

President Trump's guest at the State of the Union will be Erika Kirk, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Tuesday.

The next hearing is scheduled for March 13.

Fox News' Stepheny Price, Adriana James-Rodil, Adam Sabes, Julia Bonavita and Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.

MIKE DAVIS: Chicagoland, where teachers can support Charlie Kirk's killing, but not ICE

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 11:50:53 -0500

This is the tale of two teachers in the leftist dump that is Chicagoland. One teacher supported Charlie Kirk’s assassination, as leading school-choice advocate Corey DeAngelis discovered for the world to see. She still has her job. Another teacher made a social media post supporting ICE. He no longer has his job. This situation is an indefensible disgrace. There is a cancerous spread of Chicago’s radical leftist politics into the once-idyllic suburbs.

On Sept. 10, 2025, Tyler Robinson sat perched atop a roof on a Utah college campus. He allegedly aimed his rifle and fired, putting a bullet through the neck of the legendary Charlie Kirk, a model husband and father. Why? Robinson, who had a transgender lover, despised Kirk’s political views. Among those views was the commonsense belief that biological males should not compete in sports while masquerading as females and competing with biological females. Kirk sought dialogue with all sides; indeed, he was at Utah Valley University that tragic day to engage in it. Robinson, by contrast, is a leftist domestic terrorist. He has no interest in dialogue; rather, he believes that assassinating those with whom he disagrees is the proper course of action. Robinson hopefully will receive the death penalty if convicted for his barbaric act.

Lucy Martinez is a teacher at Nathan Hale Elementary School in Chicago. Like many radical leftists, Martinez attended one of the farcical "No Kings" protests that occurred across the country. Martinez, however, did far more than protest President Donald Trump, the object of the demonstrations. She was filmed pointing a fake gun to her neck. While doing so, she shouted "Bang, bang!" This protest occurred in October, the month after Kirk’s assassination. It does not take a rocket scientist to understand what Martinez was doing. She was mocking Charlie Kirk’s assassination, just as many so-called professionals — including doctors, nurses, lawyers and even a former official with the Carolina Panthers — had done. The difference between Martinez and other degenerates, however, is that she still has her job. There was little outrage in the community over her abhorrent conduct.

ICE is the federal agency tasked with enforcing our immigration laws. These brave men and women jeopardize their lives to rid our nation of illegal aliens, many of whom are violent — and all of whom are criminals. Radical leftists have doxed ICE agents and their families because these Marxists desire open borders and the resulting destruction of America. These Marxists have led anti-ICE protests across the country, most recently in Minneapolis. The Grammy Awards contained several anti-ICE diatribes, including one artist who profanely attacked ICE.

IT'S NOT STUDENTS ORGANIZING ICE WALKOUTS — HERE'S WHO'S REALLY BEHIND THE NATIONWIDE PROTESTS

James Heidorn was a physical education teacher at the Gary Elementary School in West Chicago, one of the aforementioned once-idyllic Windy City suburbs. He has a different view of ICE; that is, he supports the agency. Heidorn expressed his view with a simple post on Facebook: "GO ICE." Nothing more. He expressed support for a law-enforcement agency. The reaction, however, was nothing like that which occurred after the Martinez fiasco. Outrage erupted from parents in the community. Illinois state Sen. Karina Villa, a pro-illegal alien leftist, railed against the post as hurtful. West Chicago Mayor Daniel Bovey held a listening session where people could come and whine about the post. All because a teacher expressed support for law enforcement.

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Heidorn got placed on leave after his post which, again, merely expressed support for a law-enforcement agency. Heidorn has since resigned. What if Heidorn had posted "ABOLISH ICE" instead? How about "ICE IS HORRIBLE!" There is no doubt that the school would have done nothing to him. In other words, this school — a government institution — would be just fine with a teacher who criticizes law enforcement. A teacher who supports law enforcement, however, is placed on leave and subject to an investigation. That teacher is now unemployed.

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Martinez was never placed on administrative leave after celebrating Charlie Kirk’s murder. Neither Villa nor any other leftist senator expressed outrage. The mayor did not hold a listening session. Instead, Martinez continues merrily along, entrusted with dozens of young, impressionable minds. These are the consequences for a teacher who supported an assassination. And the claim that she merely mocked it, and that mockery is different from support, is risible. Political violence must be condemned, for it tears at the very fabric of the Republic. Martinez’s conduct warranted termination because no one who supports murdering political opponents belongs anywhere near a classroom of young children. Anyone who supports the conduct Robinson is accused of is an utterly sick individual who needs profound help.

The education landscape in Chicagoland is simple and sad. A teacher can support the assassination of a political opponent and face no consequences. Another teacher can support law enforcement, face excoriation from local leaders, and lose his job. Chicago is a crime-infested hellhole, and it will remain so as long as the mentality of these leaders controls the machinery of government. This is clearly now spreading to the suburbs too. Heidorn deserves to be in a classroom; Martinez belongs nowhere near one. Yet, the opposite is reality. That reality illustrates Chicago’s leftist insanity.

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Erika Kirk battles for cameras in courtroom while expanding TPUSA chapters in new state partnership

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 17:17:15 -0500

Turning Point USA (TPUSA) CEO Erika Kirk joined "The Story" Wednesday to detail her fight to keep cameras in the courtroom for the trial of her husband's accused assassin.

Tyler Robinson, 22, is accused of assassinating TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk Sept. 10 during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University.

Robinson’s defense team has repeatedly urged the court to limit media access inside the courtroom, a move Erika Kirk has forcefully opposed.

Kirk argues that cameras are essential to ensuring full transparency of the events that transpired Sept. 10 and preventing the spread of misinformation.

CHARLIE KIRK’S WIDOW ERIKA KIRK DEMANDS SPEEDY TRIAL, ALLEGING 'UNDUE DELAY' FROM TYLER ROBINSON DEFENSE

"I want there to be no hesitation in the understanding of what happened to my husband that day," she said. "I want there to always be full transparency."

Kirk said she wants "all facts on the table," allowing the public to get a "full display" of what happened to Charlie.

She also reaffirmed her belief that Robinson is responsible for shooting and killing her husband.

Text messages between Robinson and his partner indicate he allegedly targeted Charlie Kirk because he "had enough of his hatred."

ERIKA KIRK OPENS UP ABOUT GRIEF AND FAITH AT CHRISTMAS: ‘LIFE IS DIFFERENT NOW’

"There’s no ifs, ands or buts or confusion as to who did it and why," Erika Kirk said.

Kirk went on to tell Fox News about a new development in her effort to carry on her husband’s mission of promoting pro-America values to students.

ACCUSED CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN TYLER ROBINSON TRIES TO HIDE FROM ‘DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD’ OF PUBLICITY: EXPERT

The TPUSA CEO is partnering with Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte to expand Club America chapters and restore pro-America principles in Montana high schools.

The high school-based program has more than 1,200 chapters nationwide and involves more than 14,000 students with a mission to "empower the patriotic leaders of tomorrow."

Kirk said she wants to show young people how to use their voices for political change.

‘WE ARE NOT AFRAID’: ERIKA KIRK VOWS TPUSA WILL CONTINUE CAMPUS DEBATES NATIONWIDE

"I want these students to understand that your voice is in that ballot box," Kirk explained. "It is not with a weapon, and it is not to murder people."

The widow said the Montana partnership will further Charlie’s goals of boosting student engagement and protecting free speech.

"He knew that Club America was the future," she said. "And anyone who's watching this right now, whether you are a parent, a student, I just wanna encourage you to get involved."

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A July press release from TPUSA outlined Charlie’s goal of reaching 10,000 high school chapters within the next three to five years, and Gov. Gianforte said he wants a Club America chapter in every Montana high school.

Kirk also teased more state partnerships with Nebraska and Indiana to further expand Club America chapters.

Erika Kirk urges court to provide 'meaningful' media access in trial of husband's alleged assassin

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:27:09 -0500

In a Monday court filing, slain conservative leader Charlie Kirk's widow demanded "meaningful" media access in the trial of his suspected assassin.

"As this Court is aware, this matter has received significant public attention," says the filing by Erika Kirk in the District Court of Utah's Fourth Judicial District. "This public attention cannot be ignored. And although it is critical that this Court balance the defendant’s right to a fair trial with the public’s First Amendment right of access to judicial proceedings, any request, by either party, to essentially close these court proceedings from the public eye should be denied."

Tyler Robinson, 22, is suspected of assassinating Kirk on Sept. 10 while Kirk was speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University. Some of the pre-trial proceedings have centered around media access to the trial, which has been limited.

"The public assassination of Mr. Kirk has profoundly affected many. Without meaningful access to these proceedings, the public will be unable to directly observe and evaluate the evidence presented, leaving a critical gap in understanding the circumstances surrounding his death," the filing says.

CHARLIE KIRK’S SECURITY CHIEF SAYS POLICE PROMISE TO COVER ROOFTOPS FAILED BEFORE ASSASSINATION

It also notes that without transparency, conspiracy theories and misinformation are bound to spread, which Kirk's attorneys argue will erode the public's confidence in the judicial system.

"Such an outcome serves neither the interests of justice nor those of Ms. Kirk," according to the filing.

Several conspiracy theories have emerged in the wake of the assassination, taking an emotional toll on the widowed mother of two.

"When you go after my family, my Turning Point USA family, my Charlie Kirk Show family, when you go after the people that I love, and you're making hundreds and thousands of dollars every single episode going after the people that I love because somehow they're in on this, no," she said on Fox News' "Outnumbered" on Dec. 10.

Shortly thereafter, she and podcast host Candace Owens sat down for a private discussion after Owens spent weeks positing alternative theories about the assassination.

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"There is no adequate substitute for open proceedings," the filing says. "Accordingly, Ms. Kirk respectfully urges the Court to deny any unnecessary requests to limit public or media access and to ensure that courtroom proceedings remain open to the fullest extent consistent with the defendant’s right to a fair trial."

Tyler Robinson defense presses conflict claim as expert hints move could reshape death penalty fight

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 06:00:31 -0500

PROVO, Utah — The Utah man accused of gunning down Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk appeared in court Tuesday as his defense team is asking to have the Utah County Attorney’s Office disqualified from the case after it was revealed a member of the prosecution team had an adult child who was present for the murder.

Attorneys for Tyler Robinson continued arguing their motion to dismiss the Utah County Attorney’s Office from the case, telling the court last month that they were "very concerned we are getting off on the wrong foot." Tuesday’s hearing was a continuation of a Jan. 16 court appearance, which was adjourned after more than two hours of testimony.

The 22-year-old was seated in the courtroom as press and members of the gallery streamed in. His parents, Matthew and Amber, were present in court. He was shackled at the waist.

The hearing opened with what has become a hotly-debated subject in pre-trial proceedings thus far — what, if any, media should be allowed in the courtroom. One of Robinson's defense attorneys, Richard Novak, argued that even still images of his client could interfere with his right to a fair trial. Attorney Michael Judd, arguing on behalf of the media, countered by saying photography should be allowed.

CHARLIE KIRK'S WIDOW ERIKA KIRK DEMANDS SPEEDY TRIAL, ALLEGING 'UNDUE DELAY' FROM TYLER ROBINSON DEFENSE

Ultimately, Judge Tony Graf ordered still photographers to the back of the courtroom, and ordered them not to zoom in on the faces of any parties. The video camera was also moved to the back of the courtroom, and honed in on the backs of the parties' attorneys as they argued before Graf.

Robinson spent the beginning of the hearing looking down at a document shared with him by another defense lawyer, Kathryn Nester.

After the arguments over media coverage concluded, the court took up the issue at hand.

The defense insists that a conflict of interest is at play, given that an adult child of a member of the prosecution team was present at Utah Valley University during Kirk's Sept. 10 assassination.

Graf said at the outset that while a potential conflict could be conceivable, the defense had not yet met the statutory threshold required to remove county prosecutors or refer the case to the Utah Attorney General’s Office.

Novak picked up where he left off last month, questioning Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray, and trying to pinpoint the exact time when Gray decided he would seek the death penalty against Robinson.

A PROSECUTOR’S CHILD WITNESSED CHARLIE KIRK’S ASSASSINATION — CAN HE TAKE PART IN THE CASE?

TYLER ROBINSON DOESN’T WANT VIDEO OF CHARLIE KIRK’S MURDER INTRODUCED AS EVIDENCE

The prosecutor said disclosure of the child’s presence was made out of professionalism and transparency and was not a concession that a conflict existed. The prosecutor also testified the child’s presence did not influence charging decisions or the decision to seek the death penalty.

Testifying about the day of the shooting, the prosecutor said they were attending an out-of-county conference when family group text messages began coming in. One message read, "CHARLIE GOT SHOT."

The prosecutor testified they later went to campus, described the scene as chaotic, and informed officers that a backpack left behind belonged to the child but did not remove it. The prosecutor said they later walked the scene from what was described as the "shooter’s perch" and concluded the child was not within the zone of danger, estimating the distance at about 85 feet.

JUDGE PRESIDING OVER TYLER ROBINSON CASE URGED TO REIN IN DEFENSE DELAY TACTICS

The state then called Utah State Bureau of Investigation Agent Dave Hall, one of the lead investigators in the case.

Hall testified the investigation focused on identifying the shooter and said eyewitness accounts did not identify the suspect. He told the court investigators collected more than 40 witness statements, along with extensive video, digital and forensic evidence.

WATCH: Kirk's accused assassin wants to bar murder video

Videos shown included footage of Kirk arriving behind the stage, entering the amphitheater and interacting with the crowd, as well as graphic cellphone video capturing the moment he was shot. Other footage showed crowd reactions and a rooftop area where bystanders could be heard discussing someone running.

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Hall testified investigators determined the bullet came from straight in front of Kirk. He said he did not learn that a prosecutor’s adult child had been present at the event until the defense filed its conflict-of-interest motion and that the information had no impact on the investigation.

Hall also testified investigators recovered a firearm from a wooded area near campus and a screwdriver from a rooftop, and said DNA found on the firearm was consistent with Robinson’s DNA. He said investigators reviewed social media messages tied to Robinson that included admissions indicating involvement in the shooting.

As prosecutors played videos and images of Kirk before and during the event, Robinson accepted a tissue from Nester and wiped his face, looking down during portions of the presentation. When the hearing concluded, Robinson was led out, still shackled and gave his family a small grin as he exited the courtroom.

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After Hall was excused, the defense said it would call no additional witnesses.

Graf reiterated that he is accepting the defense’s alleged facts as true for purposes of the motion but emphasized he has not yet made up his mind. He scheduled a Feb. 24 hearing at 10 a.m. via WebEx, where he will issue an oral ruling followed by a written decision on whether county prosecutors should be disqualified — a ruling that will determine how the case proceeds.

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Robinson faces seven charges, including aggravated murder, which carries the potential death penalty. He has not entered a plea. Motions to block video evidence and further restrict courtroom cameras remain pending.

Legal experts say removing an entire prosecutor’s office is rare and difficult, but the issue raised by the defense carries broader implications.

"I think to remove an entire office can be very difficult," Skye Lazaro, a Salt Lake City–based criminal defense attorney not involved in the case, told Fox News Digital. "What this is ultimately going to turn on is whether or not that played any role in their decision to charge this case, and I don’t think that it really did. They were going to prosecute this case regardless, so I think this is an uphill battle."

At the same time, Lazaro said the argument is not frivolous.

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"I also think it probably is an argument that has merit and is worth bringing by the defense," she said.

Lazaro said the issue could become a true conflict if the prosecutor’s family connection becomes part of the evidence presented to jurors.

"If this person’s child were to be put on a witness list, or the text messages they’d want to use as evidence were introduced, then yes — at that point, that becomes a real conflict," Lazaro said.

She also emphasized public perception.

"When you look at conflicts, it’s also about holding public trust in prosecutorial agencies and them being unbiased when they investigate and prosecute cases," Lazaro said. "There’s no personal ties, no personal feelings — they’re able to do what’s best for the state."

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Finally, Lazaro noted the motion could affect who controls the death-penalty decision.

"This isn’t going to keep Tyler Robinson from being prosecuted," she said. "It just means either a different county attorney’s office would handle it or a special prosecutor would be appointed. And whoever prosecutes the case is the one who decides whether to seek the death penalty — a decision that can change."

What Tyler Robinson's defense wants hidden and why prosecutors and media say no in court

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 06:00:34 -0500

PROVO, Utah – Utah prosecutors and a broad coalition of media organizations are pushing back against attempts by alleged Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson’s defense to shield court filings from public view, arguing there's no justification for the secrecy.

Prosecutors argued that Robinson's defense has failed to both justify secretive filings and to explain how their public release would violate his right to a fair trial in the assassination of the Turning Point USA founder. They wrote that the remedy for the defense's concerns should be part of jury selection, not secret pre-trial filings.

"Given Defendant's inadequate justification for restricting access to his motion, and the existence of these 'reasonable ways to ensure a fair trial' despite pre-trial publicity, Defendant has not rebutted the presumption that the public should have access to his motion," Deputy Utah County Attorney Christopher Ballard wrote to the judge last week.

ACCUSED CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN TYLER ROBINSON TRIES TO HIDE FROM ‘DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD’ OF PUBLICITY: EXPERT

For the media group, which includes Fox News along with other national and local outlets, the constitutional arguments largely weigh the First Amendment rights of the public as a whole against Robinson's right to a fair trial.

Lawyers for the media coalition have argued they are being forced to guess what evidence the defense wants excluded, because the underlying motion was filed under seal on Jan. 9. This creates confusion for the public, they warned.

According to defense filings, the public’s right of access is not absolute, while Robinson's right to a fair trial is. They want their 200-page motion to block news cameras from the courtroom classified, arguing that its undisclosed contents could unfairly prejudice the jury pool against their client.

"My take is that the defendant’s efforts to keep things under wraps is doomed," said Royal Oakes, a media attorney and legal analyst who successfully convinced a California judge to televise the OJ Simpson murder trial in the 1990s. "Not every document, snippet of testimony, or fact is automatically open to the public and press simply because it relates to a legal proceeding — but nearly everything is."

WHAT WILL BE TYLER ROBINSON’S DEFENSE STRATEGY? EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON ACCUSED CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN

The Supreme Court has found "pretrial publicity, even if pervasive and concentrated, cannot be regarded as leading automatically and in every kind of criminal case to an unfair trial," according to a filing from the prosecution.

"Any paperwork submitted by one of the parties supporting or opposing the sealing of documents, or the closing of court proceedings, or the approval or disapproval of cameras should absolutely be public documents," Oakes told Fox News Digital. "Transparency not only encourages people to do the right thing, it lets the public and the press push back if secrecy is unwarranted."

Robinson's defense has also taken issue with closeup video of his face, which they claimed was abused by "lip readers" to distort courtroom conversations, and is accusing the media of trying to "turn a profit at the expense of allowing this case to proceed as the Constitution requires—both public and fair."

JUDGE PRESIDING OVER TYLER ROBINSON CASE URGED TO REIN IN DEFENSE DELAY TACTICS

"The News Media uses their platforms to, for example, call for Mr. Robinson's death, to have 'body language experts' make irrelevant and entirely unscientific claims about Mr. Robinson's character, and to transmit video worldwide that is in clear violation of the Court's orders," the defense argued.

The media coalition pushed back hard against those claims, arguing the defense is misapplying outdated law. At least one of their arguments relies on a precedent that was effectively overruled, decades ago, by the Supreme Court, according to a filing from media lawyers.

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"The seven-to-one reversal of the closure order in Richmond Newspapers, relying entirely upon the First Amendment, represented an extraordinary reevaluation by, and realignment of, the Court on the issue of access," media attorneys wrote. "As a result, 'Gannett was effectively overruled within a year of its release.'"

Robinson is accused of fatally shooting Kirk from a rooftop during a public speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, back in September. According to previously released court filings from the prosecution, Robinson is believed to have spent about a week planning the murder and allegedly confessed to his lover, friends and his family.

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A text message exchange that prosecutors allege took place between Robinson and Lance Twiggs, the lover and roommate who is cooperating with investigators contains what appears to be an explicit confession:

"You weren’t the one who did it right????" Twiggs wrote.

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"I am, I’m sorry," Robinson allegedly replied.

Defense attorneys have not addressed the alleged exchange or responded to a number of Fox News Digital's requests for comment.

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He has not yet entered a plea, and prosecutors have not yet convinced the court of probable cause due to repeated postponements of his preliminary hearing and arraignment.

Robinson could face the death penalty if convicted of the top charge against him, aggravated murder.

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Separately, the defense is vying to have prosecutors kicked off the case over a purported conflict of interest. One of the deputy Utah County attorneys on the case had an adult child who was in the crowd at UVU during Kirk's murder.

Prosecutors have denied a conflict. Robinson is due back in court Tuesday afternoon for a continuation of a hearing on the matter. Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray will return to the witness stand.

Tyler Robinson doesn't want video of Charlie Kirk's murder introduced as evidence

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:49:47 -0500

Lawyers for Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused assassin of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, have asked a Utah judge to block video of the murder from being introduced as evidence at a hearing scheduled for Feb. 3.

Kirk, a 31-year-old father of two, suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the neck at Utah Valley University in September, when he was participating in a public speaking event sponsored by the campus chapter of Turning Point.

In a memorandum filed Tuesday, Robinson's attorneys claimed the video is irrelevant to their motion to have the county prosecutor's office disqualified from handling the case and would violate his right to a fair trial.

A PROSECUTOR'S CHILD WITNESSED CHARLIE KIRK'S ASSASSINATION — CAN HE TAKE PART IN THE CASE?

Robinson's lawyers have accused the Utah County Attorney's Office of having a conflict of interest because the adult child of a deputy prosecutor was present during the assassination. Prosecutors have denied a conflict and said they do not need or plan to rely on the adult child as a witness.

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Several videos of Kirk's murder circulated widely online minutes after the shooting. It was not immediately clear from court filings if the video prosecutors planned to introduce as evidence has been publicly seen before.

JUDGE PRESIDING OVER TYLER ROBINSON CASE URGED TO REIN IN DEFENSE DELAY TACTICS

The defense described it as a color video taken "only a few feet away from Mr. Kirk." It includes audio "including unidentified voices, immediately before, during and after the shooting."

Read the filing:

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"This is a solid argument," said Donna Rotunno, a Chicago-based criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor.

She said prosecutors don't need to actually play the clip to illustrate that they don't need to rely on the adult child's testimony or to argue that they don't have a conflict.

CHARLIE KIRK'S WIDOW ERIKA KIRK DEMANDS SPEEDY TRIAL, ALLEGING 'UNDUE DELAY' FROM TYLER ROBINSON DEFENSE

"The video should not be played if it isn’t needed to prove any material issues in the hearing," she said. "I do not see how it is needed to determine if the prosecution should be disqualified."

Skye Lazaro, a Salt Lake City-based criminal defense attorney who is not connected to the case, said she wouldn't want the video played either. However, she said, it's unclear how the judge will rule.

"I'm not sure they're going to be successful there," she told Fox News Digital.

Also in the filing, the defense claimed news coverage of the case has been "highly biased" and told the court they planned to ask to have cameras kicked out once again at the start of the next hearing. They wrote that if the video of Kirk's murder is played in court, it would be "subject to immediate publication nationwide and internationally."

Many outlets, including Fox News Digital, have avoided republishing widely circulated video of the slaying due to its extremely graphic nature.

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Robinson faces seven charges, including aggravated murder, which carries the potential death penalty.

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He has not yet entered a plea.

He is due back in court Tuesday for the second day of a hearing on his defense team's motion to have prosecutors kicked off the case.

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Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray will return to the witness stand.

Also expected to testify are a deputy prosecutor in his office, the prosecutor's adult child and a state investigator.

Gunfire, arson and vandalism: Tracking political violence in America

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Assassination attempts, arson attacks and targeted shootings have scarred American politics over the past three years.

President Donald Trump survived two incidents. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was unharmed after a madman lit his house on fire. UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson died after a gunman shot him in the back on a Manhattan sidewalk. A sniper killed Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk during a public speaking event. Even state-level officials have been gunned down in their own homes.

Experts warn that political violence and tolerance for it are on the rise, even with the murder rate falling to a 125-year low in 2025. And victims have been on both sides of the political spectrum.

Here's a recap of events.

NEW CALIFORNIA BILL NAMED AFTER CHARLIE KIRK, MELISSA HORTMAN ADDS 'POLITICAL AFFILIATION' TO HATE CRIMES

July 13, 2024 — Trump rally shooting

Thomas Crooks, a 20-year-old Pennsylvanian, opened fire from a rooftop overlooking a campaign rally for President Donald Trump in Butler, a rural area near Pittsburgh.

A bullet grazed Trump's ear. Two members of the audience survived gunshot wounds and one man, a 50-year-old firefighter and father of two named Corey Comperatore, died.

NEW SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SHOWS PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR'S MANSION ARSON ATTACK

"Corey died a hero," Shapiro told reporters after speaking with Comperatore's wife Helen. "Corey dove on his family to protect them."

Authorities have released few details about Crooks and his motive. He died when counter-snipers returned fire.

"As the survivor of two assassination attempts — and recently watching his dear friend Charlie be assassinated — no one understands the dangers of political violence more than President Trump," White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital last week. "That’s why, following Charlie’s assassination, President Trump delivered powerful and unifying remarks urging all Americans to ‘commit themselves to the American values for which Charlie Kirk lived and died. The values of free speech, citizenship, the rule of law, and the patriotic devotion and love of God.’"

Sept. 15, 2024 — Sniper captured outside Trump golf course

CONSERVATIVE UTAH STUDENT SAYS RADICAL LEFT-WING CLASSMATE THREATENED TO 'KIRK' HIM BEFORE CAMPUS ARREST

Police arrested a 58-year-old man after U.S. Secret Service agents spotted a rifle barrel poking through the brush on the edge of Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, while Trump was playing a round.

Jurors found Ryan Wesley Routh, now 59, guilty in September. He has not yet been sentenced but could receive life in prison.

No one was injured during this incident.

UNIVERSITY OF UTAH STUDENT CHARGED WITH MAKING GUN GESTURES, THREATENING TO SHOOT CONSERVATIVE DEBATERS

Dec. 4, 2024 — The assassination of UnitedHealthcare's CEO

Brian Thompson, a 50-year-old father of two from Minnesota, was the CEO of one of the country's largest health insurers.

A gunman approached him from behind outside a New York City hotel and shot him repeatedly in the back, killing him on the sidewalk.

MAJORITY OF DEMOCRATS SAY 'EXTREMIST POLITICAL RHETORIC' CONTRIBUTED TO CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION: POLL

Suspect Luigi Mangione has pleaded not guilty to a slew of charges in the case. State and federal trials are not expected to begin until late fall 2026 at the earliest.

According to investigators, they allegedly found journals in which he discussed the thought process going into the slaying and criticized the health insurance industry.

Mangione is accused of "meticulously" planning the murder with the motive of igniting a "public discussion about the healthcare industry," per the Justice Department.

POLITICAL VIOLENCE HAS 'JUST STARTED,’ FORMER FBI AGENT WARNS IN 2026 OUTLOOK

April 13, 2025 — Arson attack on Gov. Shapiro

An arsonist set off a fire at the Pennsylvania governor's residence while Shapiro and his family were asleep inside.

The attack happened around 2 a.m. on the first night of Passover. The Shapiros are Jewish.

'MY FIRST EMOTION WAS FEAR': GEORGETOWN STUDENTS REACT TO FLYERS CELEBRATING CHARLIE KIRK'S MURDER

Cody Balmer, 39, has since pleaded guilty in connection with the fire and received a sentence of 25 to 50 years in prison.

Surveillance video shows he broke a window with a sledgehammer and threw a Molotov cocktail inside. Then he broke in through another window and threw another firebomb into the dining room but failed to break through a door that led to the bedrooms.

May 21, 2025 — Antisemitic shooting in DC

EX-FBI AGENT TURNED UVU PROFESSOR BREAKS DOWN THE EVIDENCE TRAIL TYLER ROBINSON LEFT FOR DETECTIVES

A gunman opened fire outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., killing a young couple — both victims being employees of the Israeli Embassy.

The suspect, a 31-year-old pro-Palestinian agitator and far-left activist from Chicago named Elias Rodriguez, has pleaded not guilty. A trial date has not yet been set.

June 14, 2025 — Attacks on Minnesota lawmakers

'ASSASSINATION CULTURE' IS ON THE RISE, ESPECIALLY AMONG WOMEN, STUDY WARNS

Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, and her husband were killed in their home in Brooklyn Park, a suburb of Minneapolis.

State Sen. John Hoffman, another Democrat, and his wife were both shot nearby in Champlin. They survived.

A single suspect has been charged with both attacks, 58-year-old Vance Boelter. He pleaded not guilty and is due back in a federal court in Minneapolis on Feb. 20.

CHARLIE KIRK’S SECURITY CHIEF SAYS POLICE PROMISE TO COVER ROOFTOPS FAILED BEFORE ASSASSINATION

Sept. 10, 2025 — The assassination of Charlie Kirk

Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old father of two, was delivering public remarks at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, when a sniper's bullet pierced his neck.

He died as his security team rushed him to a nearby hospital.

UVU PROFESSOR AND FORMER FBI AGENT WARNS OF NEW PATTERN OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE AFTER CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION

The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, has pleaded not guilty and is due in court on Feb. 3 for the second day of a hearing on his defense team's motion to have the prosecutor's office kicked off the case.

Court documents have revealed text exchanges between Robinson and his trans lover that appear to show an opposition to Kirk's conservative views motivated the crime.

"I had enough of his hatred," Robinson allegedly wrote.

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October 2025 — Alleged Border Patrol murder-for-hire plot

U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino was allegedly the target of a $10,000 murder-for-hire plot that failed to materialize, according to federal prosecutors.

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Last week, jurors delivered a not guilty verdict for the man accused of orchestrating it, 37-year-old Juan Espinoza Martinez.

Espinoza Martinez, who is not a U.S. citizen, was accused of offering $10,000 for Bovino's slaying over Snapchat after an ex-con business acquaintance and federal informant shared the post with investigators.

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Jan. 6, 2026 — Vandalism at the Vance home

A 26-year-old Ohio man has been accused of vandalizing the Cincinnati home of Vice President JD Vance.

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The suspect, William DeFoor, has a history of vandalism charges and mental illness, according to authorities.

"I appreciate everyone's well wishes about the attack at our home," Vance wrote on X. "As far as I can tell, a crazy person tried to break in by hammering the windows."

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His family was in Washington, D.C., at the time, he added.

Fox News' Rachel Wolf, Stepheny Price and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Judge presiding over Tyler Robinson case urged to rein in defense delay tactics

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 06:00:13 -0500

Legal analysts are urging the Utah judge overseeing the case against a 22-year-old electrician accused of assassinating Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk to firmly reject what they see as a "frivolous" defense motion delaying the proceedings.

Tyler Robinson has not yet entered a plea or faced a preliminary hearing — a crucial early step in Utah's legal process where prosecutors have to convince the judge they have probable cause to bring charges. That has to take place, unless the defense waives it, before he can be arraigned.

Judge Tony Graf Jr., a former prosecutor, was appointed to Utah's Fourth District Court in May 2025 and is now presiding over one of the highest-profile court cases in the country. While he's taken a balanced approach so far, legal analysts tell Fox News Digital he could be stricter in clamping down on what they see as "frivolous" motions and delay tactics by the defense.

"The judge has let it go on too far," said Donna Rotunno, a Chicago-based criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor. "This is something that the judge could've looked at in writing and said, 'You know what? No need for a hearing.'"

ONE OF TYLER ROBINSON'S LAST MEALS AS A FREE MAN MAY HAVE BEEN A STEAK DINNER — MEDIUM RARE

A controversial motion to disqualify the Utah County Attorney's entire prosecution team could have been denied without days of oral arguments and testimony in court, Rotunno said.

And the delays have also prompted Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, to have her attorney notify the court she is invoking her right to a speedy trial as a victim under Utah law.

ANDREW MCCARTHY: PROSECUTING CHARLIE KIRK'S ALLEGED KILLER IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA AGE

"The Utah Code affords victims of a crime ‘the right to a speedy disposition of the charges free from unwarranted delay caused by or at the behest of the defendant,’" her attorney, Jeffrey Neiman, wrote in a court filing.

While prosecutors said Friday they had completed about 90% of the discovery process, the defense has moved to have the county attorney's office kicked off of the case because a deputy prosecutor had an adult child who was present at Utah Valley University during the shooting.

WHY POLITICAL ASSASSINATION CASES AREN'T AUTOMATICALLY DEATH PENALTY ELIGIBLE

The adult child, unnamed in court documents, texted the prosecutor from the scene. The communications, however, suggest the child didn't see the shooter, and prosecutors have said they have no plans to use the child as a witness in court.

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There were about 3,000 people present during the shooting — which took place at a Turning Point USA event in which Kirk was taking questions from the crowd.

Richard Novak, one of Robinson's high-powered defense lawyers, even surprised the court and the prosecution by arguing the state Attorney General's Office should be in court handling the motion, rather than the local prosecutors he wants kicked off the case.

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"The judge needs to toughen up. It’s his courtroom and he should have done more than 'scolded' the defense, if that’s what you call it," said David Gelman, a Philadelphia-area defense attorney and legal analyst. "It’s only going to get worse if he doesn’t rein in the attorneys."

Prosecutors have indicated they're confident there's no conflict of interest, and legal analysts are calling the motion "frivolous" as the defense has focused on procedural issues that are not expected to have a major impact on the case.

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With or without the local prosecutor in charge, Robinson faces serious charges and the potential death penalty.

"I know this judge has a more laid-back demeanor, which isn’t bad at all," Gelman said. "However, this isn’t some little shoplifting case he’s presiding on. It’s the biggest case he will ever preside over. He needs to have a conference with the parties so as not to embarrass everyone and lay down the law."

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Robinson's defense team has repeatedly declined to comment on the proceedings.

The accused assassin faces seven charges, including aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice, witness tampering and committing a violent offense in front of a child. He could face the death penalty if convicted of the top charge.

He is due back in court on Feb. 3 for a continuation of Friday's hearing. Gray is expected to return to the witness stand, followed by a prosecutor from his office, their adult child and an investigator.

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"Their strategy is delay, delay, delay," Gelman told Fox News Digital. "Then after they exhaust all the motions, they will start attacking evidence."

Charlie Kirk’s widow Erika Kirk demands speedy trial, alleging 'undue delay' from Tyler Robinson defense

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 13:23:50 -0500

Erika Kirk is seeking a speedy trial in response to perceived delay tactics from the legal team representing her husband's accused assassin, Tyler Robinson.

In a court filing made public over the weekend, her attorney, Jeffrey Neiman, notified the court that she is invoking her rights to a speedy trial as a victim under Utah law.

"The Utah Code affords victims of a crime ‘the right to a speedy disposition of the charges free from unwarranted delay caused by or at the behest of the defendant,’" Neiman wrote in a court filing.

ONE OF TYLER ROBINSON'S LAST MEALS AS A FREE MAN MAY HAVE BEEN A STEAK DINNER — MEDIUM RARE

"This Court is tasked with the critically important function of ensuring the Defendant has a fair trial, but this Court must also do so while balancing Mrs. Kirk’s right to a speedy trial and therefore this Notice invokes Mrs. Kirk’s rights under applicable Utah Code."

WHY POLITICAL ASSASSINATION CASES AREN'T AUTOMATICALLY DEATH PENALTY ELIGIBLE

Read the filing:

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Robinson is accused of shooting Charlie Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in September.

Kirk, who founded the organization, was sitting under a tent in the campus courtyard, speaking with audience members, when a sniper's bullet struck him in the neck, sending thousands of people running for cover.

While prosecutors said Friday they'd completed about 90% of the discovery process, Robinson hasn't entered a plea yet or faced a preliminary hearing — a crucial early step in Utah's legal process where prosecutors have to convince the judge they have probable cause to bring charges.

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Even so, the filing may be premature, according to Donna Rotunno, a Chicago-based defense attorney and Fox News contributor.

"I don’t really think this applies, but it is a very good strategic move to put the judge on notice that everyone is watching," she told Fox News Digital Monday.

Utah is one of a few states that has such a provision, although the Constitution gives defendants their own right to a speedy trial — something that can be waived in major cases requiring large amounts of legal research and maneuvering in court.

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"Nobody believed in the importance of the United States Constitution more than Charlie Kirk," Neiman wrote. "And although the United States Constitution guarantees criminal defendants many rights, it does not guarantee them the right to cause undue delay in the criminal justice process."

Robinson is due back in court on Feb. 3 for the second day of a hearing on his defense team's motion to kick the local prosecutor off the case. Many legal analysts, including Rotunno, have called it "frivolous."

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Prosecutors have denied an alleged conflict of interest over the fact that a deputy in the county attorney's office had an adult child who was in the crowd when Kirk was murdered.

One of Tyler Robinson's last meals as a free man may have been a steak dinner — medium rare

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 16:00:03 -0500

EXCLUSIVE: PANGUITCH, Utah — One of Tyler Robinson's last meals as a free man may have been at a roadside steakhouse off the beaten path, according to a Utah restaurateur who called in a tip to the FBI after news of the 22-year-old electrician's arrest in the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

Staff at a mom-and-pop restaurant in Panguitch, Utah, about three hours south of the crime scene in Orem, said a customer who looked like Robinson had eaten alone at the counter on the night of the murder.

"So, the gal that served him said that he was quite quiet, kind of shy," the restaurant owner, who said he is not seeking attention about the encounter and asked not to be named, told Fox News Digital. "Usually, if somebody sits at our counter, they like to talk. And he sat on the counter, and she said he really didn't want to talk, just wanted to eat and get out."

It was a very busy day, he noted, and there was a wait for regular tables at the time.

WHY POLITICAL ASSASSINATION CASES AREN'T AUTOMATICALLY DEATH PENALTY ELIGIBLE

"He had a steak — had a sirloin, medium rare," he said. "Vegetables. Baked potato."

The restaurant owner told Fox News Digital he is a huge fan of Kirk's work and called the situation "a crappy deal all the way around." He also has ties to some of Robinson's relatives.

"It's kind of hit a local chord because we're pretty tight-knit," he said. "His grandmother grew up here in town."

RIFLE BEHIND CHARLIE KIRK’S KILLING MAY BE UNTRACEABLE RELIC FROM WWI

The next day, after Robinson's arrest, his picture circulated widely.

"When they put a picture of the young man out there, I had a server say that they were relatively certain that they had had that person in that night — late," the owner told Fox News Digital. "That was turned over to the FBI."

The FBI called him back and asked for any information on the lone diner. Investigators interviewed the owner and two servers.

TYLER ROBINSON PROSECUTORS SAY CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING TEXTS SHOW CONFUSION, NOT BIAS, TO REBUT CONFLICT CLAIM

The card reader system at the restaurant doesn't store the names from cards if the user supplies a PIN, the owner said, and a camera over the cash register didn't record the area where the lone diner was seated.

However, he was able to provide the FBI with the last four digits of the card used to pay for that steak and potato meal.

"That was the last I've heard of it," he said. "I don't know if the FBI found if it was conclusive if it was him or not."

The FBI, which is typically tight-lipped regarding active cases, has not confirmed whether the number matches Robinson's bank card.

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WATCH: Video captures Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer stopping at Utah gas station after assassination

"The FBI followed through and did what they were supposed to, and that's that," the owner told Fox News Digital.

Panguitch is about 200 miles south of Utah Valley University, where Robinson is accused of firing a single shot from a .30-06 Mauser rifle from a rooftop, fatally striking Kirk.

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The 31-year-old father of two was answering a question from the audience at a Turning Point USA event when panic erupted.

Images show Kirk's final moments and the crowd fleeing the campus courtyard. Surveillance cameras atop of the Losee Center building showed a man, later alleged to be Robinson, fleeing toward Campus Drive, dropping from the roof to a lawn and running into the surrounding neighborhood.

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Police found the rifle wrapped in a towel in the woods, and authorities have said Robinson came back to the area, where he encountered a police officer manning the perimeter. But he was not deemed suspicious at the time because hundreds of people in the audience had dropped personal belongings as he fled.

However, text messages he shared with his lover and roommate, Lance Twiggs, show he discussed attempting to retrieve the rifle before he gave up and left.

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Fox News Digital previously obtained surveillance video from a Maverik gas station in Cedar City along the path between UVU and his home in St. George in southwestern Utah.

The stop in Panguitch, if investigators have confirmed his debit card number matches, would show he took a meandering route and used back roads, rather than taking the interstate all the way back.

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As for the restaurant owner, he's hoping things quiet down.

"The staff that was involved. They were just trying to be good citizens, and they don't really want to be hounded about it," the owner said. "There wasn't much conversation. There wasn't anything more than they serve people. That's their job, you know, and we've just, we've had a lot of weird calls and stuff over it."

Tyler Robinson's lover Lance Twiggs no longer protected by FBI: What we know about alleged assassin's partner

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 08:00:22 -0500

PROVO, Utah – The transgender roommate and romantic partner of Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin Tyler Robinson is no longer being trailed by a four-man security detail, a law enforcement source confirmed to Fox News Digital.

The revelation comes amid the FBI pulling its protection of Lance Twiggs more than four months after Robinson allegedly gunned down Kirk at a Turning Point USA event on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Fox News Digital has learned.

The FBI did not provide a public explanation regarding why Twiggs’ protection has ended, and Twiggs has not been charged with any crime.

Twiggs was initially thrust into the national spotlight after investigators revealed Robinson had allegedly confessed to assassinating Kirk in a note left behind at the pair’s shared apartment shortly after the murder.

CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION: LEGAL EXPERT UNPACKS DEFENSE CHALLENGES AND WHY EVIDENCE SECRECY COULD BE CRUCIAL

A relative previously told Fox News Digital that Twiggs had moved into a townhome in St. George, Utah, with several college roommates while transitioning from male to female. Twiggs, 22, previously lived with his grandparents after being kicked out of his parents’ home at the age of 18, according to the relative.

"He was maintaining a job and able to pay rent, and was technically an adult," she said.

The relative pointed to a history of conflict between Twiggs and other family members over his gender identity, while also citing Twiggs’ reported history of drug abuse and alcoholism as the cause of him moving into his own place.

CHARLIE KIRK'S WIDOW FIGHTS TO KEEP NEWS CAMERAS IN COURTROOM FOR ACCUSED ASSASSIN'S TRIAL

"But the real reason he was acting out was because he was using drugs and alcohol, and was addicted to gaming," the relative said. "He had always tried to put on the act that he had changed."

After the other roommates moved out, Robinson began living in the townhome, and the pair ultimately entered a romantic relationship, the relative said. Both Robinson and Twiggs continued living together for about a year until Robinson’s arrest in September 2025.

Following Robinson being taken into custody over his alleged connection to Kirk’s killing, authorities tracked down Twiggs — who was later described as "cooperative" — and brought him in for questioning, the relative said.

CHARLIE KIRK'S SUSPECTED ASSASSIN WILL NOT SHOW FACE IN COURT, KEY HEARING POSTPONED

Court documents reveal that shortly before the murder, Robinson allegedly texted Twiggs to "look under my keyboard" in the pair’s shared apartment.

Investigators say the message pointed to a handwritten note from Robinson, in which he said, "I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I’m going to take it."

Additionally, authorities say Twiggs and Robinson allegedly exchanged multiple text messages immediately following the killing, in which Twiggs asked his partner if he truly was the one who shot Kirk.

TYLER ROBINSON PROSECUTORS SAY CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING TEXTS SHOW CONFUSION, NOT BIAS, TO REBUT CONFLICT CLAIM

"You weren’t the one who did it right????" Twiggs allegedly asked.

"I am, I’m sorry," Robinson allegedly responded, according to court filings.

Immediately after Robinson’s arrest, Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby told reporters Twiggs was in a "safe space very far away from St. George," and that law enforcement from a separate agency were speaking with Twiggs’ associates.

ALLEGED CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN TYLER ROBINSON TO MAKE FIRST IN-PERSON COURT APPEARANCE

"They need to lay low for a long time," Brooksby previously said, referring to both Twiggs' and Robinson’s family members.

Twiggs has since moved out of state and retained an attorney.

"He hates conservatives and Christians," Twiggs’ relative previously told Fox News Digital. "He hated us. He was not raised that way, but he, over the years, has become really detached [and] been radicalized."

"He has obviously gotten progressively worse the last year or two," the relative said, adding that he's "always very angry."

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Robinson is charged with aggravated murder, two counts of obstruction of justice, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, two counts of witness tampering and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child.

Fox News Digital's Stepheny Price contributed to this report.

A prosecutor’s child witnessed Charlie Kirk’s assassination — can he take part in the case?

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 06:00:09 -0500

PROVO, Utah — Defense attorneys for the Utah electrician accused of assassinating Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk want the Utah County Attorney’s Office disqualified from handling the case because a member of the prosecution team had an adult child who was present for the murder.

But legal experts are split on whether the connection constitutes an actual conflict of interest.

Tyler Robinson appeared in court Friday afternoon as arguments on the motion got underway. After more than two hours, Judge Tony Graf adjourned court for the day and set the next hearing for Feb. 3, when testimony on the issue will continue.

Robinson entered the courtroom shortly before Friday's hearing began around 1 p.m. local time, smiled and nodded toward his parents seated in the front row, then took a seat behind his attorneys as a bailiff removed his shackles. Robinson appeared calm, quietly taking notes as the hearing unfolded.

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Graf called the court to order and addressed procedural matters, including the release of transcripts from prior proceedings, which will be released in redacted form.

Graf also reviewed courtroom contempt rules, appearing to direct the remarks toward members of the media. He warned that violations of his orders could result in video transmissions being cut off entirely, with future hearings limited to audio-only coverage, or the pool camera removed from the courtroom.

Defense attorneys then began arguing the motion to disqualify the Utah County Attorney’s Office, telling the court they were "very concerned we are getting off on the wrong foot."

Robinson’s attorney, Richard Novak, said the case presents a clear risk of an unresolved conflict of interest and argued that allowing county prosecutors to continue litigating the issue would require them to defend their own propriety.

"This is very clearly the type of case where there very well may be a conflict of interest that has not been handled," Novak told the court.

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Defense counsel acknowledged it took time to think through the issue and said they believe there should have been a referral to the Utah Attorney General’s Office. They added that it would benefit the court to receive additional filings and suggested the hearing could be continued if the judge was open to considering new legal authorities.

Novak warned it was "problematic" to proceed with an evidentiary hearing where the same office would both prosecute the case and defend its own conduct, urging the judge to strike the county’s response and direct the Utah Attorney General’s Office to assume responsibility.

"The court needs to hear from a representative of the state who does not even appear to have a conflict of interest," Novak argued.

Prosecutors pushed back, with Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray calling the request an "ambush" and a stalling tactic. Deputy Attorney Ryan McBride added that the defense was assuming a conflict existed before the court had made such a finding.

Graf questioned the timing of the motion. Novak took responsibility and emphasized that county attorneys should not be representing themselves in the matter.

The defense also argued that Graf has the authority to direct the Utah Attorney General’s Office to step in or designate a separate entity to litigate the issue. They said they are prepared to proceed with an evidentiary hearing but remain concerned that Utah County attorneys would be effectively representing themselves in the proceedings.

Novak told the court there was no screening process within the county attorney’s office because prosecutors believed none was necessary. He also said the Attorney General’s Office has stated there was no consultation on the matter.

Graf then questioned the defense about the legal authority supporting their request, asking what precedent he should consider. Following a brief adjournment for a short recess, defense attorney Kathy Nester was observed chatting with Robinson’s parents as Robinson sat quietly at the counsel table.

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When court resumed, Graf said the issue before him was significant and required careful consideration, emphasizing he did not want to make a "snap decision" without fully reviewing the arguments and weighing the constitutional rights of all parties.

Graf said he was accepting the facts alleged in the defense motion as true, including that a prosecutor’s adult child was present at the Turning Point USA event, heard gunfire, fled with the crowd, and texted the prosecutor during the chaos. Graf also noted the prosecutor later went to Utah Valley University to determine how close the family member had been to the shooting, estimating the distance at about 85 feet.

Graf then questioned whether witness testimony was necessary to decide the initial threshold question or whether the court could rely on affidavits and the existing record.

Novak argued testimony was needed to explore emotional impact, family and office communications, screening decisions, and whether the experience influenced prosecutorial decision-making. Prosecutors countered that the defense must first make a sufficient showing of a conflict before removing the county attorney’s office from handling the motion.

Graf said he understood both positions and indicated he would continue reviewing whether the defense met the required threshold before deciding how the court should proceed.

After reviewing the arguments and filings, Graf said the defense had not met the threshold showing a potential conflict of interest based on the briefs before the court, signaling that the written submissions alone were insufficient to justify removing county prosecutors from litigating the issue at this stage.

McBride told the court the case has "polarized the nation," citing reported death threats against witnesses and threats directed at prosecutors and members of the county attorney’s office, and warning that doxxing has become a real concern.

Later in the hearing, defense attorneys showed Graf two video clips they said violated his decorum order by zooming in closely enough on Robinson during attorney-client conversations that viewers could potentially lip-read. The defense cited paragraph 48 of the order, arguing it bars visual recording of a person’s lips in a way that would be decipherable during conferences at counsel table.

A media attorney told the court the decorum order distinguishes between recording "a person’s lips" so they can be deciphered by a lip-reader and separately forbids zooming in on counsel tables or the bench to identify writing.

Defense counsel pushed back, arguing prior incidents had already shown the harm could be irreparable, referencing a previous hearing in which a news outlet allegedly hired a lip-reader and published claims about what was said.

Graf ultimately found violations in both clips and issued a sanction limiting the day’s video coverage so that Robinson would not be shown on camera at all during the proceedings. Robinson’s family appeared visibly upset as the ruling was announced.

After further discussion, the court decided to break for the day. The remainder of the hearing was continued to Feb. 3 at 1 p.m.

While Graf weighed whether the defense had made a sufficient showing to justify removing county prosecutors from litigating the motion, outside legal experts questioned whether the connection rises to the level of a true conflict of interest.

"This is one of those motions I find ridiculous," said Donna Rotunno, a Chicago criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor. "Normally I like to see a vigorous defense and attorneys doing everything they can to protect their client, but this is one that I find frivolous in nature."

It would be a conflict if the relative’s presence had some way of influencing the case, she told Fox News Digital. "If the family member was the victim, then maybe this is an issue," Rotunno said. "If Erika Kirk was related to a prosecutor, they would have more ground to stand on."

Typically, a prosecutor can be recused or disqualified from a case if there is a conflict of interest that would jeopardize the defendant’s right to a fair trial. With such a high-profile shooting at a public event in a small town, the connection may not be so unusual.

"The legal system takes conflicts of interest seriously, but a prosecutor isn’t automatically disqualified just because someone in their family witnessed a traumatic event connected to the case," said Randolph Rice, a Baltimore-based attorney and legal analyst. "The key issue is whether that relationship creates a real risk that decisions are being driven by emotion instead of evidence."

Courts usually require "a clear, direct conflict that threatens the defendant’s right to a fair trial" before disqualifying an entire prosecutor’s office from a case, he said.

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"At the same time, prosecutors also have a duty to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, especially in a high-profile capital case where public trust is already on edge," he said.

The capital case is as high-stakes as it can get for a defense team, and if Robinson’s lawyers are successful, new prosecutors on the case may have different views about the death penalty, he said.

"I have had cases in the past where we had to bring in a different prosecutor because we were prosecuting an individual who was tangentially related to an employee in the office," he said. "Also had situations where we had to bring in different judges from different jurisdictions who were unfamiliar with a lawyer's family member who was being prosecuted."

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However, there’s also the chance that federal prosecutors add new charges to make sure the potential death penalty remains on the table.

"Getting this prosecutor or prosecutor's office kicked off the case opens the possibility of a different state agency coming in and evaluating this case differently and possibly not seeking the death penalty — which would be a huge win for Tyler Robinson's team and for him," he said.

The state countered that the prosecutor in question does not have a personal conflict of interest — and that even if he did, it would not extend to the entire office. Gray, who campaigned for office on a platform of seeking the death penalty where appropriate and justified, also argued that the deputy prosecutor’s connection to a witness played no role in his decision to file a notice of intent to seek capital punishment against Robinson.

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Thousands of other people saw the murder, according to court filings, and prosecutors don’t need to rely on the relative, who they added had no personal knowledge of "the actual murder." The adult child had no direct line of sight to the rooftop sniper’s perch, only to where Kirk was sitting, according to a prosecution filing.

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During the chaos, however, the witness was texting with family, including the prosecutor.

"CHARLIE GOT SHOT," read one harrowing message.

Alleged Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson’s lover Lance Twiggs no longer under FBI protection, source says

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:10:50 -0500

PROVO, Utah – A law enforcement source confirmed to Fox News Digital that Lance Twiggs, the transgender roommate and romantic partner of Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin Tyler Robinson, is no longer under FBI protection.

Twiggs has not been charged with any crime. The FBI has not publicly explained why his protection ended.

A relative previously told Fox News Digital that Twiggs moved into a townhome in St. George, Utah, after living with his grandparents when his father kicked him out. The 22-year-old was in the process of transitioning from male to female at the time, the relative said. He was kicked out of his parents’ home at age 18, according to the relative.

The relative said Twiggs struggled with drug and alcohol abuse, was addicted to video games, and was grappling with his gender identity, adding that those issues fueled repeated conflicts with family members.

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"But the real reason he was acting out was because he was using drugs and alcohol, and was addicted to gaming," the relative said.

She added that Twiggs would often present himself as reformed despite ongoing issues.

"He had always tried to put on the act that he had changed," she said.

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According to the relative, Twiggs initially moved into the townhome with multiple college roommates and paid full rent while maintaining employment.

"He was maintaining a job and able to pay rent, and was technically an adult," she said.

The other roommates eventually moved out, and Robinson later moved in. The two entered a romantic relationship, according to the relative, and lived together until Robinson’s arrest.

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A relative also told Fox News Digital that while Twiggs was later described as cooperative, authorities initially had to locate and bring him in for questioning. The relative said Twiggs and members of his family were given an FBI security detail in the weeks after the shooting because of threats, but that protection has since ended.

Robinson is accused of assassinating Kirk during a Turning Point USA event on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, authorities said.

Court documents allege Robinson texted Twiggs shortly before the killing, asking him to "look under my keyboard." Investigators say the message referred to a handwritten note.

"I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I’m going to take it," the note read, according to authorities.

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After the shooting, prosecutors say Twiggs exchanged text messages with Robinson, questioning whether he carried out the attack.

"You weren’t the one who did it right????" Twiggs allegedly asked.

"I am, I’m sorry," Robinson allegedly responded, according to court filings.

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Federal law enforcement sources say the decision to end protection was not unusual. Retired FBI special agent Jason Pack told Fox News Digital that the Bureau typically reevaluates witness protection once a cooperation phase is complete.

Pack noted that Robinson’s partner provided key evidence early in the case, including text messages in which Robinson allegedly confessed, a handwritten note found under a keyboard, and communications about the rifle, and once investigators secure that material, the need for ongoing protection often diminishes.

Pack added that threat assessments are a central factor, and with Robinson in custody since September and no known credible threats against the partner, the FBI may have concluded federal protection was no longer warranted.

He also pointed to resource constraints, saying protective details are costly and labor-intensive and cannot be maintained indefinitely absent a clear danger.

While the partner has since moved out of state and retained an attorney, Pack said that from the Bureau’s perspective, its role in protecting the witness "is done — though it can always be reevaluated if circumstances change."

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Robinson has been charged with aggravated murder, two counts of obstruction of justice, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, two counts of witness tampering, and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child.

Officials claim Robinson told investigators he killed Kirk because he "had enough of his hatred," adding that "some hate can’t be negotiated out."

A judge is scheduled to hear arguments Friday, Jan. 16, on Robinson’s motion to remove the entire Utah County Attorney’s Office from the case. If granted, a special prosecutor would be appointed, potentially delaying trial proceedings — including the state’s pursuit of the death penalty.

University researcher accused of calling for assassination of conservative voices in social media post

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 18:39:00 -0500

The University of Washington is investigating comments made by a researcher who posted on social media, allegedly calling for the assassination of conservative voices.

Mara Maughan, who uses she/they pronouns according to her bio on the UW Fuller Labs website, is labeled as an RSE1 under the Department of Microbiology’s "research and lab staff."

"May there be tyler robinsons for you all," Maughan posted on Facebook in a comment directed at Educational Freedom Institute Executive Director Corey DeAngelis.

Tyler Robinson is charged with the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

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DeAngelis had posted a clip of a Democratic state senator in Washington state with the caption, "he can’t acknowledge that there are biological differences between men and women."

"This kind of violent rhetoric from Mara Maughan and far too many others on the left — wishing for assassins to target conservatives like me and my family — absolutely concerns me, as it not only normalizes political violence but fuels a dangerous environment where radical ideologies in academia and beyond threaten our freedoms and safety without accountability," DeAngelis told Fox News Digital.

"I've seen how the left resorts to these tactics when they're losing the argument on merits, and it's high time institutions like UW step up to condemn and discipline such hate to prevent real-world tragedies."

Maughan is employed through a union-based position at the university, with Glassdoor estimating a similar researcher position under the immunology department at the school earns $4,000 to $5,000 a month with benefits.

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The UW Department of Microbiology also has office space listed for Maughan on its website.

In a separate Facebook comment from several months ago unrelated to DeAngelis, the researcher appears to identify as transgender.

"Being an autistic trans vaccine scientist [right now] has turned me into the joker," the comment says.

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Adam Guillette, the president of Accuracy in Media, an organization that has been actively investigating radicalism at UW for several years, says the rhetoric from the liberal-leaning university doesn’t come as a surprise.

"UW administrators claim they oppose violence, but their actions speak louder than their word," Guillette told Fox News Digital. "They’ve repeatedly allowed both violence and violent rhetoric from their students and their staff.

"The university is already under federal investigation, and it's now time to revoke its funds."

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When Fox News Digital reached out to Maughan, a spokesperson from the university responded to the email inquiry with a statement.

"UW Medicine denounces violence against all people and takes seriously the concerns reported to us regarding this matter," a UW spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "We are reviewing the specifics of this situation — including a detailed review of the facts, university policy and the law — and will determine next steps."

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DeAngelis was not fully satisfied with the university’s response.

"I'm glad UW Medicine is finally looking into this after the massive public outcry, but their actions will speak louder than this boilerplate statement that says nothing of substance. If they truly denounce violence, they'll take real disciplinary action against Mara Maughan and bring meaningful accountability to prevent such hateful rhetoric from their employees in the future."