During Wednesday&#8217;s hearing, the family of slain conservative Charlie Kirk pushed for greater transparency, urging the court to publicly release interviews in-full with the transgender romantic partner of Kirk&#8217;s accused killer.
Jeffrey Neiman, attorney for Kirk&#8217;s widow, Erika Kirk, asked Judge Tony Graf Jr. to allow the full audio of Lance Twiggs&#8217; interviews to be played in open court rather than a heavily redacted version. Twiggs, who was granted &#8220;use immunity,&#8221; is cooperating with prosecutors and is expected to be an important witness in the case. Prosecutors say Robinson admitted to murdering Kirk in text messages to Twiggs after the shooting and left behind a handwritten note expressing his intent to kill Kirk before the attack.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/thats-so-criminal-ep-21?contentProgram=That%27s%20So%20Criminal&amp;contentType=ShowEpisode&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;location=Home%20Tab&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Home%20Featured%20Carousel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LISTEN: The Trial of Tyler Robinson</a> &#8220;The Kirk family believes strongly that if the evidence is being admitted in this preliminary hearing, it should be made public for the world to see,&#8221; Neiman said to Judge Graf. &#8220;No redactions.&#8221;
&#8220;This court has tools at its disposal to make sure the defendant receives a fair trial,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;You&#8217;ll use them if you find that you need to.&#8221;
&#8220;To not be transparent here, to not be open, to not let the world see what happened, will create doubt and distrust in the judicial system, and that&#8217;s not what anybody wants,&#8221; Neiman added. &#8220;That&#8217;s not what any of us believe should happen here. And we&#8217;d ask the court to consider the position of the family in making its ultimate decision.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Full Statement from Kirk Family Representative, Jeffrey Neiman, regarding transparency around the Lance Twiggs interview recording:
&#8220;The Kirk family believes strongly that if the evidence is being admitted in this preliminary hearing, it should be made public for the world to… <a href="https://t.co/OkbHz0HJLz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://t.co/OkbHz0HJLz</a> <a href="https://t.co/y5C03suSFh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pic.twitter.com/y5C03suSFh</a>
— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) <a href="https://x.com/AndrewKolvet/status/2074983325731799456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">July 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
Graf ultimately ruled that portions of Twiggs&#8217; interviews would be redacted before being presented during the preliminary hearing, meaning the public will hear only portions of the interviews. The judge also said that he would personally review the complete, unredacted interviews when determining whether prosecutors have established probable cause to send Tyler Robinson to trial for Kirk&#8217;s murder.
Notably, the ruling currently applies only to the preliminary hearing and does not determine what evidence a jury may ultimately see or hear at trial. Twiggs could also testify in person at Robinson&#8217;s trial.
As highlighted by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/key-piece-of-evidence-contained-dna-from-accused-kirk-assassin-and-his-trans-lover-fbi?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Key+Piece+Of+Evidence+Contained+DNA+From+Accused+Kirk+Assassin+And+His+Trans+Lover%3A+FBI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a>, the weapon believed to have been used to murder Kirk was wrapped in a towel that contained DNA from Robinson and Twiggs, according to the FBI. A screwdriver recovered from the rooftop where Robinson allegedly fired also contained DNA from both males, the state said at the hearing. Robinson was living with Twiggs at the time of Kirk’s assassination.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
DNA breakdown on towel and screwdriver where Lance Twiggs&#8217; and Tyler Robinson&#8217;s DNA was found from Amanda Bakker, DNA analyst:
Towel: Twiggs 5% Robinson 95%
Screwdriver: Twiggs 11% Robinson 89%
— Lynden Blake (@LyndenBlake) <a href="https://x.com/LyndenBlake/status/2074630147827773861?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">July 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-never-before-seen-tyler-robinson-footage-haunting-his-defense?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=The+Never-Before-Seen+Tyler+Robinson+Footage+Haunting+His+Defense" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Never-Before-Seen Tyler Robinson Footage Haunting His Defense</a>

Tyler Robinson

Kirk Family Pushes For Public Release Of Full Lance Twiggs Interviews

Charlie Kirk

Court

Erika Kirk

Utah

More never-before-seen footage of Tyler Robinson was shown in a Provo, Utah, courtroom on Wednesday, showing the accused killer two days after the Charlie Kirk assassination.
Robinson, who is charged with murdering Kirk, turned himself in to authorities 33 hours after Kirk was fatally shot. The video footage presented Wednesday shows Robinson being held at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Hurricane, Utah, on September 12, 2025.
Notably, Robinson appears to be wearing the same clothing he wore arriving on campus that morning.. Robinson is wearing a maroon-colored t-shirt with no graphics or lettering and Converse sneakers, according to the video and testimony.
&#8220;Never before seen footage of Tyler Robinson being held at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Hurricane, Utah before his transfer. Sept 12, 2025,&#8221; Gina Milan reported.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Never before seen footage of Tyler Robinson being held at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Hurricane, Utah before his transfer. <a href="https://t.co/wyK4cEGTA3">pic.twitter.com/wyK4cEGTA3</a>
— Gina Milan (@ginamilan_) <a href="https://x.com/ginamilan_/status/2074944138512883941?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
Footage taken on the Utah Valley University campus from September 10, 2025, the day Kirk was killed, shows a man believed to be Robinson wearing a maroon shirt, light-colored shorts, and Converse shoes, according to video and testimony.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Bad day for the &#8220;Tyler Robinson was not on campus that day&#8221; retards <a href="https://t.co/dMyqO0cuMM">pic.twitter.com/dMyqO0cuMM</a>
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a href="https://x.com/EndWokeness/status/2074560947587268637?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
During the hearing on Tuesday, security footage played in court appeared to show Robinson walking with what authorities described as a “limp” just minutes before the shooting.
“UVU prosecutors just presented this footage of Tyler Robinson arriving on campus for the third time, just minutes before the shooting,” Blake Neff, a producer of “The Charlie Kirk Show,” posted online. “Look at how he is walking, as if something is hindering his right leg.” (See footage above.)
Reports have previously indicated that Robinson appeared to walk with a stiff right leg before the shooting, or with an unusual gait, which some have suggested could indicate he was concealing a rifle under his clothing. Robinson is facing the death penalty for the fatal shooting of Turning Point USA founder and conservative leader Charlie Kirk.
Reporters inside the courtroom said the prosecution used surveillance footage to establish that Robinson was on campus four separate times on September 10, 2025, the day Kirk was killed.
“The timeline prosecutors are building is strong. Surveillance placing Robinson on campus before, during, and after the shot. Roof access, sniper position in the gravel, that screwdriver left behind, every piece fits,” Jack Posobiec reported on Monday. “Defense is already grasping at procedural straws.”
In another video played for the court, a person believed to be Robinson was seen “‘rolling’ over the railing of the Losee Student Center and moving into a prone position just seconds before Kirk was shot,” Neff posted.
Security footage also appeared to show a person believed to be Robinson seconds after Kirk was fatally shot. The person was seen running along the top of a campus building “before dropping down onto the grass and heading away from campus on foot, carrying something,” The New York Times reported.
The hearing will determine whether prosecutors have presented enough evidence to establish probable cause for Robinson to stand trial for Kirk’s assassination.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/don-jr-wife-condemn-lies-about-kirk-assassination?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Don+Jr.%2C+Wife+Condemn+‘Lies’+About+Kirk+Assassination">Don Jr., Wife Condemn ‘Lies’ About Kirk Assassination</a>

Charlie Kirk Murder Suspect Tyler Robinson Attends Court Hearing

The Never-Before-Seen Tyler Robinson Footage Haunting His Defense

Only two days into a preliminary hearing for the Tyler Robinson murder case and newly presented security footage and testimony are contradicting a conspiracy peddled by Candace Owens.
Owens has accused more than a dozen individuals and shadowy groups or governments of being involved in the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, while saying Robinson is being framed or used as a patsy. The late conservative&#8217;s widow, Erika Kirk, has notably been a routine target of Owens&#8217; unsupported theories.
Just days ago, Owens repeated her belief that Robinson was not on the Utah Valley University campus at all on the day Kirk was murdered.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t think Tyler Robinson was there,&#8221; she <a href="https://podscripts.co/podcasts/shawn-ryan-show/318-candace-owens-the-most-sued-woman-in-american-media?utm_source=chatgpt.com">told</a> podcast host Shawn Ryan. &#8220;I think he&#8217;s a total patsy. I think they get lookalikes. They get everybody to wear the same outfits. I believe he played a role, and what he did was he picked up clothes and he dumped them behind the Dairy Queen.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/thats-so-criminal-ep-21?elementPosition=1&amp;row=2&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+Episodes&amp;rowType=Horizontal+Show+Episodes+Carousel">LISTEN: The Trial of Tyler Robinson: Making the Case Day 2</a>
During the interview, Owens again raised questions about whether Israel or other “heavy players” were connected to Kirk’s murder and cast suspicion on Erika. At one point in the same interview, Owens said she felt &#8220;gutted&#8221; because Erika never actually loved her late husband. Owens cited Erika&#8217;s decision to quickly step into a leadership role at TPUSA after the assassination as part of her reasoning.
During Tuesday&#8217;s preliminary hearing, which will determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence for Robinson to stand trial, a number of security videos showed a man on the Utah Valley University campus who authorities testified was Robinson.
One video appeared to show Robinson walking with a &#8220;limp,&#8221; according to David Hull, a former Utah State Bureau of Investigation agent. Notably, reports previously indicated that Robinson appeared to walk with a stiff right leg before the shooting, or with an unusual gait, indicating he was likely concealing a rifle under his clothing.
Another video presented in court shows the man believed to be Robinson climbing over the railing of the Losee Center and moving into a prone position just seconds before Kirk was fatally shot.
Security footage also showed a person believed to be Robinson seconds after Kirk was fatally shot. The person was seen running along the top of a campus building “before dropping down onto the grass and heading away from campus on foot, carrying something,” The New York Times reported.
&#8220;The video compilation (exhibit 12.4) of Tyler Robinson visiting UVU campus four times on 9/10 (the last visit stretching into the early morning hours of 9/11) will be submitted as evidence and broadcast to the media. Here’s the video,&#8221; TPUSA spokesman Andrew Kolvet said. &#8220;When you watch it, you&#8217;ll understand why the defense fought so hard against allowing it to be seen by the public.&#8221;
Robinson&#8217;s parents also recognized him from images released by law enforcement following the shooting, and Robinson apparently made statements that led his parents to believe he killed Kirk. Matt Robinson, the suspect&#8217;s father, drove his son to surrender himself to authorities.
Some independent journalists and conservatives — including those who were close to Kirk — slammed Owens for spreading the apparent lies about the case.
&#8220;Compare the video of Candace Owens claiming last week that Tyler Robinson was never on the UVU campus on the day Charlie Kirk was killed and the extended footage presented in court today of Robinson visiting campus 4 times that day,&#8221; conservative commentator AG Hamilton said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Compare the video of Candace Owens claiming last week that Tyler Robinson was never on the UVU campus on the day Charlie Kirk was killed and the extended footage presented in court today of Robinson visiting campus 4 times that day… <a href="https://t.co/2E7NUcjuS8">pic.twitter.com/2E7NUcjuS8</a>
— AG (@AGHamilton29) <a href="https://x.com/AGHamilton29/status/2074541314339635672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
&#8220;Candace Owens led thousands of people astray and lied, claiming that Tyler never stepped foot on campus that day,&#8221; journalist Sarah Fields said. &#8220;This is embarrassing — for her and for everyone she effectively brainwashed.&#8221;
Without naming Owens, CEO of The Babylon Bee, Seth Dillon, commented on the mounting evidence against Robinson and those spreading falsehoods about the case.
&#8220;[T]here&#8217;s a reason so many people are unwilling to let the evidence speak for itself. The well was poisoned for exactly that purpose,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;The goal of the months-long internet &#8216;investigation&#8217; has been to pre-bunk the real one so that its findings, when they eventually surfaced, would be widely dismissed.&#8221;
&#8220;Shame on anyone who&#8217;s defended this malicious campaign as &#8216;just asking questions&#8217; or &#8216;the actions of a true friend,'&#8221; he added.
Unsurprisingly, Owens is denying the person in the video footage is Robinson. She is now suggesting the man is Lance Twiggs, Robinson&#8217;s trans-identifying lover. &#8220;The person walking in the video they are presenting is very clearly a TALL person. Well above 6 feet,&#8221; she wrote on X. &#8220;No way that is a 5’10 or 5’11 person. How tall is Lance Twiggs?&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This was my exact point. The person walking in the video they are presenting is very clearly a TALL person. Well above 6 feet. 
No way that is a 5’10 or 5’11 person. 
How tall is Lance Twiggs? <a href="https://t.co/IjKSmwoHA7">https://t.co/IjKSmwoHA7</a>
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) <a href="https://x.com/RealCandaceO/status/2074543586264105317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
&#8220;Has anybody wanted anything as badly as Candace wants Charlie&#8217;s murderer to go free?&#8221; Blake Neff, producer of &#8220;The Charlie Kirk Show,&#8221; reacted.
Manhattan Institute fellow Colin Wright called Owens &#8220;unfathomably idiotic.&#8221;
&#8220;She thinks she has the ability to determine the height of a person to within 1 inch simply from a video,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Tyler Robinson might appear tall at first glance, but that&#8217;s because he&#8217;s skinny and lanky. Candace saying that he &#8216;looks to me to be 6&#8217;2 minimally&#8217; is just stupid.&#8221;
&#8220;&#8216;Looks to me&#8217;? Based on what method that allows for only 1 inch of wiggle room?&#8221; he continued to ridicule Owens. &#8220;She has no method, just vibes. It simply isn&#8217;t possible to determine how tall someone is from a video or photo that lacks a clear reference point.&#8221;
&#8220;I told you Candace would be spinning off endless conspiracies from the trial footage,&#8221; Wright added. &#8220;It has already started, and it&#8217;s only going to get a lot more insane.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/who-tyler-robinson-interacted-with-hours-before-charlie-kirk-assassination?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Who+Tyler+Robinson+Interacted+With+Hours+Before+Charlie+Kirk+Assassination">Who Tyler Robinson Interacted With Hours Before Charlie Kirk Assassination</a>

Candace Owens/Tyler Robinson

Testimony, Security Footage Contradict Candace Owens’ Insane Defense Of Tyler Robinson

Testimony, Security Footage Contradicts Candace Owens Conspiracy Theory

assassination

Candace Owens

The weapon believed to have been used in the murder of conservative Charlie Kirk was wrapped in a towel that contained DNA from Tyler Robinson and his trans lover, Lance Twiggs, according to the FBI.
Robinson was living with Twiggs at the time of Kirk&#8217;s assassination, and authorities viewed messages between the two romantic partners on the day of Kirk&#8217;s assassination that appear to implicate Robinson in the killing.
During a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, prosecutors presented a report from the FBI that indicated DNA from Robinson and Twiggs was found on the towel that was used in an attempt to hide a rifle near the scene of Kirk&#8217;s assassination, The New York Times reported. Authorities don&#8217;t believe Twiggs, who is cooperating with police, took part in planning or carrying out the assassination.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
DNA breakdown on towel and screwdriver where Lance Twiggs&#8217; and Tyler Robinson&#8217;s DNA was found from Amanda Bakker, DNA analyst:
Towel: Twiggs 5% Robinson 95% 
Screwdriver: Twiggs 11% Robinson 89%
— Lynden Blake (@LyndenBlake) <a href="https://x.com/LyndenBlake/status/2074630147827773861?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/thats-so-criminal-ep-21?elementPosition=1&amp;row=2&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+Episodes&amp;rowType=Horizontal+Show+Episodes+Carousel">LISTEN: The Trial of Tyler Robinson: Making the Case Day 2</a>
Journalist Sarah Fields similarly <a href="https://x.com/LyndenBlake/status/2074630147827773861?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">reported</a> that Utah Department of Public Safety Sgt. Jennifer Faumuina, the state&#8217;s third witness, &#8220;testified that FBI DNA testing identified DNA belonging to both Tyler Robinson and his roommate, Lance Twiggs, on the towel wrapped around the rifle, as well as on the screwdriver recovered from the sniper perch.&#8221;
A video stream of the hearing shows Amanda Bakker, a forensic analyst for the FBI&#8217;s DNA lab, confirming that Robinson was the major DNA contributor for the towel and a screwdriver found after the murder, which also contained a much smaller amount of Twiggs&#8217; DNA.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
To ALL the liars saying the opposite of the truth….you are scum of the earth!
Here is the TRUTH!
ON THE RECORD: Robinson Was 95% DNA Contributor On Evidence! <a href="https://t.co/D2rI2io1wA">pic.twitter.com/D2rI2io1wA</a>
— Graham Allen (@GrahamAllen) <a href="https://x.com/GrahamAllen/status/2074646906559701028?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Last year, Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said Robinson&#8217;s DNA was found on the trigger and other parts of a rifle that was found near the crime scene. His DNA was also found on the fired cartridge casing and two of the three unfired cartridges, as well as the towel that the weapon had been wrapped in, CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/live-updates/charlie-kirk-shooting-tyler-robinson-charges-court-hearing-utah/">reported</a>. Messages obtained by authorities reportedly show Robinson saying in a Discord chat that the rifle belonged to his grandfather.
The second day of the hearing also included <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/never-before-seen-footage-reveals-moments-before-and-after-kirk-assassination?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Never-Before-Seen+Footage+Reveals+Moments+Before+And+After+Kirk+Assassination">never-before-seen security footage</a> of who appeared to be Robinson walking on the Utah Valley University campus with what authorities described as a “limp” just minutes before the shooting.
Reports have previously indicated that Robinson appeared to walk with a stiff right leg before the shooting, or with an unusual gait, which some have suggested could indicate he was concealing a rifle under his clothing.
Robinson is facing the death penalty for the murder of Kirk.
<div class="nyp-slideshow-modal-image__wrapper">Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/never-before-seen-footage-reveals-moments-before-and-after-kirk-assassination?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Never-Before-Seen+Footage+Reveals+Moments+Before+And+After+Kirk+Assassination">Never-Before-Seen Footage Reveals Moments Before And After Kirk Assassination</a></div>

Key Piece Of Evidence Contained DNA From Accused Kirk Assassin And His Trans Lover: FBI

Towel Used To Wrap Rifle Contained DNA From Tyler Robinson, Trans Lover Lance Twiggs: FBI

Never-before-seen security footage played Tuesday during a preliminary hearing in the murder case against Tyler Robinson appeared to show Robinson walking with what authorities described as a &#8220;limp&#8221; just minutes before the shooting.
&#8220;UVU prosecutors just presented this footage of Tyler Robinson arriving on campus for the third time, just minutes before the shooting,&#8221; Blake Neff, a producer of &#8220;The Charlie Kirk Show,&#8221; posted online. &#8220;Look at how he is walking, as if something is hindering his right leg.&#8221; (See footage above.)
Reports have previously indicated that Robinson appeared to walk with a stiff right leg before the shooting, or with an unusual gait, which some have suggested could indicate he was concealing a rifle under his clothing. Robinson is facing the death penalty for the fatal shooting of Turning Point USA founder and conservative leader Charlie Kirk.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/live-tyler-robinson-preliminary-hearing?contentProgram=Daily%20Wire%20News&amp;contentType=ShowEpisode&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;location=Home%20Tab&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Home%20Featured%20Carousel">WATCH LIVE: Tyler Robinson Preliminary Hearing</a>
Agent David Hull testified that Robinson was &#8220;walking with a gait or a limp.&#8221; As the video played in the courtroom, the agent said the suspect appeared to be having difficulty walking.
Reporters inside the courtroom said the prosecution used surveillance footage to establish that Robinson was on campus four separate times on September 10, 2025, the day Kirk was killed.
&#8220;The timeline prosecutors are building is strong. Surveillance placing Robinson on campus before, during, and after the shot. Roof access, sniper position in the gravel, that screwdriver left behind, every piece fits,&#8221; Jack Posobiec reported on Monday. &#8220;Defense is already grasping at procedural straws.&#8221;
In another video played for the court, a person believed to be Robinson was seen &#8220;&#8216;rolling&#8217; over the railing of the Losee Student Center and moving into a prone position just seconds before Kirk was shot,&#8221; Neff posted.
Security footage also appeared to show a person believed to be Robinson seconds after Kirk was fatally shot. The person was seen running along the top of a campus building &#8220;before dropping down onto the grass and heading away from campus on foot, carrying something,&#8221; The New York Times reported.
The hearing will determine whether prosecutors have presented enough evidence to establish probable cause for Robinson to stand trial for Kirk’s assassination.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-chilling-moment-judge-flinches-while-watching-charlie-kirk-assassination-footage?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=The+Chilling+Moment+Judge+Flinches+While+Watching+Charlie+Kirk+Assassination+Footage">The Chilling Moment Judge Flinches While Watching Charlie Kirk Assassination Footage</a>

Never-Before-Seen Footage Reveals Moments Before And After Kirk Assassination

JUST IN: New Footage Shows Tyler Robinson Just Minutes Before Kirk Assassination 

The judge in the Tyler Robinson murder trial visibly flinched while watching footage of the fatal shooting of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
During Monday&#8217;s preliminary hearing in Provo, Utah, Judge Tony Graf Jr. was shown footage from different angles of the moment Kirk was assassinated last September. A livestream of the hearing, which does not show the footage of the murder, shows Graf reacting to the graphic footage. The footage was only shown on monitors in front of the judge and at the attorneys&#8217; tables.
&#8220;This is the heartbreaking moment Judge Graf appears to flinch at approximately the 25-second mark while reviewing a previously unseen angle of Charlie Kirk’s murder during today’s preliminary hearing,&#8221; journalist Sarah Fields, who was in the courtroom, reported. &#8220;The courtroom was silent as the footage played.&#8221;
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This is the heartbreaking moment Judge Graf appears to flinch at approximately the 25-second mark while reviewing a previously unseen angle of Charlie Kirk’s murder during today’s preliminary hearing.
The courtroom was silent as the footage played. <a href="https://t.co/fyWC6Odr3R" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pic.twitter.com/fyWC6Odr3R</a>
— Sarah Fields (@SarahisCensored) <a href="https://x.com/SarahisCensored/status/2074266744378601629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">July 6, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Notably, Kirk&#8217;s parents, Rob and Kathryn, and his widow, Erika, left the courtroom before the judge watched the footage. The hearing <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/erika-kirk-and-charlie-kirks-parents-say-assassination-hearing-is-painful-reminder-of-his-death" target="_blank" rel="noopener">marked</a> the first time the family was face-to-face with Robinson. Donald Trump Jr., who was very close with Kirk for years, was also in attendance.
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NOW — Charlie Kirk&#8217;s parents and Erika Kirk leave the courtroom together as Tyler Robinson&#8217;s defense objects to the camera showing a piece of evidence on screen.
Erika was seen wiping away tears with a handkerchief while leaning on Charlie&#8217;s mother&#8217;s shoulder.
Pray for… <a href="https://t.co/Dxr6FcUuLk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pic.twitter.com/Dxr6FcUuLk</a>
— KanekoaTheGreat (@KanekoaTheGreat) <a href="https://x.com/KanekoaTheGreat/status/2074233520025993515?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">July 6, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Brian Entin, senior national correspondent for NewsNation, reported that Robinson &#8220;was laughing with his attorney before the hearing started.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Scene from inside the Tyler Robinson courtroom:
Erika Kirk was crying before the hearing started.
Donald Trump Jr. is in the front row with his wife.
Tyler Robinson was laughing with his attorney before the hearing started.
Erika left during the description of the shooting.
— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) <a href="https://x.com/BrianEntin/status/2074180152419119497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">July 6, 2026</a></blockquote>
Jack Posobiec, a close friend to Kirk, attended the trial too, and also said Robinson &#8220;showed no remorse&#8221; and was &#8220;laughing&#8221; during the hearing.
&#8220;The timeline prosecutors are building is strong,&#8221; Posobiec further <a href="https://x.com/JackPosobiec/status/2074329426574168215" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. &#8220;Surveillance placing Robinson on campus before, during, and after the shot. Roof access, sniper position in the gravel, that screwdriver left behind, every piece fits. Defense is already grasping at procedural straws.&#8221;
The hearing will determine whether prosecutors have presented enough evidence to establish probable cause for Robinson to stand trial for Kirk&#8217;s assassination. Prosecutors are continuing to seek the death penalty, which remains on the table if Robinson is convicted.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/erika-kirk-and-charlie-kirks-parents-say-assassination-hearing-is-painful-reminder-of-his-death" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Erika Kirk And Charlie Kirk’s Parents Say Assassination Hearing Is ‘Painful Reminder Of His Death’</a>

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The Chilling Moment Judge Flinches While Watching Charlie Kirk Assassination Footage

Judge

Ahead of the much-anticipated preliminary hearings for Charlie Kirk&#8217;s accused assassin Tyler Robinson, Kirk&#8217;s widow Erika Kirk, his parents, and his sister say the family will not be commenting during the judicial process.
Erika Kirk, alongside Charlie’s parents Kathy and Rob, will be in the courtroom together throughout the week, a source familiar with the situation told The Daily Wire. They say in a statement provided ahead of hearings that are expected to last all week that they will be there as spectators, and that the proceedings are a &#8220;painful reminder of his death.&#8221;
“Charlie was a beloved husband, son, brother, friend, and father. Every court proceeding serves as a painful reminder of his death and the loss that has irrevocably impacted our lives and the lives of his children,” the joint statement reads. “We remain deeply grateful for the support, prayers, and kindness we have received. This outpouring has sustained us during the darkest days of our lives. Out of respect for the judicial process, we will not be commenting further at this time. We ask for continued privacy as we navigate this process and immense grief.”
The Daily Wire is told this will be the only statement provided during the preliminary hearing that starts Monday in Provo, Utah.
The five-day hearing happens roughly 10 months after Charlie was murdered in front of thousands at a Turning Point USA college campus tour on Utah Valley University’s campus. Judge Tony Graf will decide whether the prosecution has enough evidence against Robinson, who faces an aggravated murder charge among other offenses, with the death penalty as a possible punishment. Robinson hasn’t entered a plea.
Utah is a &#8220;hearing&#8221; state, which is why this hearing takes place instead of the case going before a grand jury, which is typically what happens in federal felony cases before a trial can take place.
Starting on Monday the state will lay out evidence against the 23-year-old, who is accused of shooting the TPUSA founder on September 10, 2025. Robinson turned himself in after an intense manhunt.
The &#8220;world is going to see what the state has,&#8221; the source familiar with the proceedings told The Daily Wire.
Often called a &#8220;mini trial,&#8221; this week is the first time the public will see what evidence the prosecution plans to use to convict him of murder.
The state will call witnesses and present evidence and the defense will cross examine. The state is under no obligation to present all evidence, just as Robinson&#8217;s team isn’t required to present all of its findings to the judge.
The judge will look at the evidence through a lens favorable to the state, per law.
It’s expected the state will play a video of a recorded statement from Lance Twiggs, Robinson’s roommate and lover, during the hearing. It will be the first public statement from Twiggs, who was on the receiving end of Robinson&#8217;s confession through text messages and a hand-written letter, per authorities.
This hearing was originally scheduled for May, but the defense successfully delayed by filing pre-trial motions.
The legal back and forth leading up to Monday’s hearing mainly revolved around the argument of cameras in the courtroom. Judge Graf sided with the state and cameras will be allowed in the courtroom, but electronic devices won’t be permitted.

Credit: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Erika Kirk And Charlie Kirk’s Parents Say Assassination Hearing Is ‘Painful Reminder Of His Death’

News

The judge overseeing the case against Charlie Kirk&#8217;s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, decided to keep the death penalty on the table as a potential punishment.
During a hearing Friday morning, Judge Tony Graf Jr. ruled that &#8220;striking the death penalty is grossly disproportionate to the misconduct and legally unavailable in this civil contempt framework,&#8221; but found that a state prosecutor was in contempt of a court gag order.
It came after Deputy Utah County Attorney Christopher Ballard made statements during interviews with TMZ, USA Today, PolitiFact, and Fox News disputing claims about ballistic evidence in the case that were mentioned in a court filing.
Robinson&#8217;s lawyers wrote in an earlier court filing &#8220;the ATF [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives] was unable to identify the bullet recovered at autopsy to the rifle allegedly tied to Mr. Robinson,&#8221; which Ballard said was misleading and &#8220;misstated,&#8221; leading to conspiracy theories online that others could have been responsible for Kirk&#8217;s killing.
&#8220;The ATF was unable to identify or exclude the bullet as having been fired from the rifle,&#8221; Ballard previously wrote.
&#8220;Defendant reinforced this misleading inference by following it up with, &#8216;the defense may very well decide to offer the testimony of the ATF firearm analyst as exculpatory evidence,'&#8221; he added.
Prosecutors argued that Ballard was attempting to correct the record about misinformation circulating in the press about the case.
Graf recognized that Ballard “did not engage with the media out of a malicious desire to flout this court’s authority or to intentionally taint the jury pool,” but said that the statements went too far.
“Those additional public statements possessed a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing the proceedings,” Graf said.
Graf also ruled that Robinson&#8217;s defense team will be reimbursed for costs incurred in pursuing the contempt ruling.

Tyler Robinson, Charged With Killing Charlie Kirk, Attends Court Hearing

Death Penalty Fight In Charlie Kirk Assassination Trial Takes Major Turn

Death Penalty

The trans-identifying lover of Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, will not have to testify in person at a court hearing next month. 
In a win for the prosecution, Utah Judge Tony Graf Jr. on Monday rejected Robinson’s defense team&#8217;s bid to subpoena and cross-examine Lance Twiggs. 
Prosecutors opposed the request for in-person testimony, arguing they already have a recorded interview where Twiggs allegedly told investigators that Robinson confessed to the crime, hid a weapon, disposed of clothing, and warned his boyfriend not to tip off law enforcement. Authorities <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/06/17/us-news/tyler-robinsons-trans-lover-given-limited-immunity-to-provide-evidence-in-charlie-kirk-assassination-case/">reportedly</a> granted Twiggs limited immunity in April for providing statements against Robinson. 
The prosecution will also present a handwritten note Robinson gave to Twiggs as evidence, according to NBC News. 
In Monday’s hearing, the judge punted a ruling on the death penalty for another day but allowed hearsay to be used at a preliminary hearing. 
Graf argued the Utah Constitution allows the state to rely on reliable hearsay to establish probable cause. 
“Although the preliminary hearing is a critical stage of the criminal process, it is not a trial, and does not involve a determination of guilt or innocence,” Graf said, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/charlie-kirk-shooting-suspect-tyler-robinsons-effort-former-romantic-p-rcna351165">according to NBC. </a>
Monday’s ruling deals another blow to Robinson’s defense team, which has repeatedly lost key evidentiary motions in court.
On June 1, Judge Graf rejected Robinson’s request to keep key court proceedings and evidence out of the public eye — meaning the media and the public will have access to his preliminary hearings and evidence exhibits. 
In May, Judge Graf also rejected a defense request to bar cameras, microphones, and still photographers from Robinson’s murder trial, The Daily Wire previously reported. 
The defense argued that allowing cameras would jeopardize Robinson’s “fair trial rights.” The prosecution pushed back, insisting that transparency builds public trust in the judicial process.
“Mischief lurks in the dark or in secret,” Deputy Utah County Attorney Chad Grunander said. “Conspiracy theories abound, and the antidote is the actual, real proceedings … Let’s shine a light on these proceedings, a bright light, so the public can have confidence in what happens in this courtroom.”
Robinson allegedly sent his boyfriend, whom he referred to as “Luna,” a message on the day of the shooting that read, “drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard,” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/inside-the-twisted-confession-tyler-robinson-is-accused-of-making-to-his-boyfriend">The Daily Wire</a> previously reported. 
“Luna, if you are reading this per my text, then I am so sorry. I left the house this morning on a mission, and sent an auto text. I am likely dead or facing a lengthy prison sentence. I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I took it,” the letter states, according to KSL.
Robinson’s mother <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/read-the-disturbing-texts-between-tyler-robinson-and-his-trans-love-after-charlie-kirk-assassination">previously told investigators</a> that her son became more political and left-leaning over the past year, adopting pro-gay and pro-transgender views.
It remains unclear when the trial against Robinson will begin. If convicted, he faces the death penalty.

Judge Deals Blow To Accused Charlie Kirk Assassin With Ruling On His Trans-Identifying Boyfriend

Comedian and HBO host Bill Maher said that people often got the late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk all wrong — and did so intentionally in an effort to score points.
Maher, who interviewed Kirk before his assassination in September of 2025, raised the topic during a recent episode of his &#8220;Club Random&#8221; podcast with guest and fellow comedian Jeff Dunham — and he argued that Kirk&#8217;s statements were often cut off and presented without context so that the Christian activist could be portrayed as a &#8220;monster.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
💥NEW: Bill Maher on Charlie Kirk: “I liked him as a person. I’m glad I talked to him. I do not think he was a monster.” <a href="https://t.co/jDymW06WrK">pic.twitter.com/jDymW06WrK</a>
— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) <a href="https://x.com/JasonJournoDC/status/2063987830750093746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;The Charlie Kirk interview with you and him was really interesting,&#8221; Dunham said.
&#8220;Me, with him here?&#8221; Maher asked for clarification.
&#8220;Yes.&#8221;
&#8220;I loved it,&#8221; Maher agreed, adding that he&#8217;d since been asked to participate in a documentary about Kirk, and that he&#8217;d quickly agreed to do so.
&#8220;I&#8217;m giving them five minutes after my taping Friday night, because — and I told them, don&#8217;t expect me to be just saying, you know, hagiography about Charlie,&#8221; Maher continued. &#8220;I liked him as a person, I&#8217;m glad I talked to him. I do not think he was a monster, and if you look — if you look at — uh-oh, heart attack?&#8221;
&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Dunham laughed.
&#8220;If you look at his statements, I&#8217;ve read the full statements. Of course, because everybody is only interested in getting points for their team they mischaracterize them,&#8221; Maher added. &#8220;But even when I read the full statement, which were accurately characterized, I still disagreed with him. But it wasn&#8217;t what they present — it wasn&#8217;t what they presented.&#8221;
&#8220;Again, it&#8217;s always in the middle — it wasn&#8217;t as bad as they said, but I still disagree,&#8221; he said.
Dunham said that&#8217;s what he&#8217;d enjoyed about Maher&#8217;s interview with Kirk — that he had allowed him to fully lay out his points and had considered them rather than simply pushing back and calling him names.
&#8220;My little motto here is everybody&#8217;s a monster until you talk to them,&#8221; Maher concluded.

WATCH: Bill Maher Says People Got Charlie Kirk All Wrong — On Purpose

Bill Maher

Media

Politics

A Utah judge on Monday rejected a request from Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, to keep key court proceedings and evidence out of the public eye. 
Judge Tony Graf’s ruling means the media — and the public — will have access to Robinson’s preliminary hearing and evidence exhibits, scheduled for early July. At the hearing, prosecutors are expected to present evidence to establish probable cause for the case to proceed to trial.
In his ruling, Judge Graf said concerns about negative publicity did not outweigh the public’s right to an open judicial process, according to the New York Times. 
It’s the latest setback for Robinson&#8217;s defense team, which has failed to convince the judge to restrict media access and keep critical evidence under wraps. 
In May, Judge Graf also rejected a defense request to bar cameras, microphones, and still photographers from Robinson&#8217;s murder trial. The defense argued that allowing cameras would jeopardize Robinson’s “fair trial rights,” telling the judge that restrictions were necessary “to ensure Mr. Robinson’s rights to due process, to a fair and impartial jury, to counsel, to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, and to be free from cruel and unusual punishment.”
The prosecution pushed back, arguing that transparency builds public trust in the judicial process.
“Mischief lurks in the dark or in secret,” Deputy Utah County Attorney Chad Grunander said. “Conspiracy theories abound, and the antidote is the actual, real proceedings… Let’s shine a light on these proceedings, a bright light, so the public can have confidence in what happens in this courtroom.”
New court documents filed in April shed light on Robinson’s state of mind before he allegedly killed Kirk at Utah Valley University.
Robinson allegedly sent his boyfriend, whom he referred to as “Luna,” a message on the day of the shooting that read, “drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard,” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/inside-the-twisted-confession-tyler-robinson-is-accused-of-making-to-his-boyfriend">The Daily Wire</a> previously reported. 
“Luna, if you are reading this per my text, then I am so sorry. I left the house this morning on a mission, and sent an auto text. I am likely dead or facing a lengthy prison sentence. I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I took it,” the letter states, according to KSL.
“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 to find joy in this life. I love you, always, -Tyler,” <a href="https://www.ksl.com/article/51481672/tyler-killed-charlie-search-warrants-detail-messages-allegedly-sent-after-kirk-killing">the letter reviewed by KSL said</a>.
Robinson’s mother <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/read-the-disturbing-texts-between-tyler-robinson-and-his-trans-love-after-charlie-kirk-assassination">previously told investigators</a> that her son became more political and left-leaning over the past year, adopting pro-gay and pro-transgender views.
It remains unclear when the trial against Robinson will begin. If convicted, he faces the death penalty.

Judge Rules On Tyler Robinson’s Fight To Shield Key Evidence From Public

Regular CNN commentator Scott Jennings exposed what he believed was the accused assassin&#8217;s flaw in targeting Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
In a speech that was originally given in February and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KCxZqSUJfs&amp;t=1s">posted publicly</a> by Hillsdale College on Friday, Jennings told a crowd at Hillsdale College&#8217;s National Leadership Seminar in Amelia Island, Florida, that he thought the gunman&#8217;s ultimate goal was not just to kill Kirk himself, but to put an end to the movement he&#8217;d started — and that he&#8217;d failed because the ideas Kirk stood for could never be killed.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
💥Scott Jennings👏
“I think when the shooter pulled the trigger in Utah, he thought he was ending a movement. He thought if he could kill someone like Charlie Kirk, he could kill what Charlie stood for.”
“That the rest of us would get the message, that we would heed the… <a href="https://t.co/FfDgeh6wTs">pic.twitter.com/FfDgeh6wTs</a>
— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonJournoDC/status/2056120753339138321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Jennings began by pointing to some of the things being taught on college campuses across the United States — namely that the nation was built on racism, the traditional family unit was a tool of oppression, and capitalism was rooted in evil — and commended Kirk for seeing that and trying to make a difference.
&#8220;I think when the shooter pulled the trigger in Utah, he thought he was ending a movement. He thought if he could kill someone like Charlie Kirk, he could kill what Charlie stood for,&#8221; Jennings continued. &#8220;That the rest of us would get the message, that we would heed the warning: &#8216;Silence yourselves or we will do it for you.&#8217; That’s what they thought.&#8221;
&#8220;But in trying to silence one voice, I believe they’ve created thousands. And in trying to end one conversation, they have started millions,&#8221; he added, and applause began to break out around the room. &#8220;Ultimately, what Charlie stood for was faith and freedom. And here’s the thing about those two items: You can’t kill them. You can try to suppress it, and throughout our history people have tried to silence it, but they always find a way, like water finding cracks in a dam.&#8221;

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