FBI Director Kash Patel told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that more than 20 people who participated in a Discord chatroom where the shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was discussed are under investigation or have been interrogated by agents.
Patel said the bureau has questioned a number of people linked to the chatroom and is continuing to investigate others after senators pressed him about whether the attack appeared to be the act of a lone actor. "Did Mr. Kirk’s assassin act alone?" Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., asked. "There are a number of individuals that are currently being investigated and interrogated — and a number yet to be investigated and interrogated related to that chatroom," Patel replied.
During the hearing, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., referenced public reports that the Discord thread had about 20 additional users. "I see the public reports that the Discord thread had as many as 20 additional users," Hawley said. "It’s a lot more than that," Patel answered, adding that the FBI is pursuing all leads and identifying others who were part of the online conversation.
Patel said some users in the channel have already been interrogated and others remain under investigation. He also told senators that agents are tracing interactions in the Discord group that included the alleged gunman, identified in public reporting as Tyler Robinson, in the period leading up to the shooting. The FBI director did not disclose the total number of people under inquiry or provide details about any charges.
Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent conservative commentator, was the subject of discussions in the chatroom before he was shot, according to agents' characterization at the hearing. The testimony came amid heightened scrutiny of online forums and private messaging platforms that investigators say have been used to plan, encourage or celebrate political violence.
Committee members pressed Patel on investigative scope and resources. Patel said the bureau is coordinating its work with local law enforcement and other federal partners and is “running them all down,” a phrase he used repeatedly when asked about cataloging and interviewing users associated with the Discord channel.
Senators also asked about broader efforts to monitor threat reporting and to prevent extremist violence. Patel said the FBI must balance investigative needs with civil liberties and that agents are focused on identifying any additional actors who may have contributed to planning, encouragement or facilitation of the attack.
The director’s comments come as federal and local authorities continue to piece together a timeline of communications and contacts connected to the shooting. Investigators have sought to determine whether individuals who participated in online discussions played a direct role in the attack, provided material assistance, or otherwise met legal thresholds for criminal charges.
Patel’s testimony adds to an evolving public account of how private online spaces figured into the events that led to the shooting. Officials emphasized that an investigation does not equate to criminal charges and that inquiries into speech alone do not automatically produce prosecutable offenses.
The committee hearing did not include new public disclosures about any additional arrests or charges related to the Discord users. Lawmakers indicated they would continue oversight of the FBI’s response and pressed for updates as the investigation proceeds. The bureau declined to provide further details at the hearing so as not to compromise investigative steps, according to Patel’s comments.
Federal investigators have previously said that determining the roles of online associates in real-world offenses can be complex and time-consuming. Patel’s remarks underscore an ongoing phase in which authorities focus on identifying participants, establishing timelines of communication, and assessing whether those interactions cross thresholds for prosecution.