The FBI is investigating more than two dozen users of an online chat group allegedly linked to the man charged in the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, Director Kash Patel told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, saying agents are “running them all down.”

Patel said the inquiry stems in part from a leaked Discord group chat that reportedly included messages plotting Kirk’s murder ahead of the shooting on the Utah Valley University campus on Sept. 10, 2025. He said the agency is questioning and interrogating dozens associated with the chat, and that other online groups are also under review as part of the probe.

Tyler Robinson, 22, who was arrested about 33 hours after Kirk was shot at an on-campus forum, is charged with the murder. Robinson’s arrest followed the FBI’s release of video and enhanced images of a suspect, which Patel said led the suspect’s father to recognize and confront his son. Discord, the messaging platform cited in reports about the leaked chat, has disputed claims that its service was used to discuss the attack in advance.

Patel used the hearing to defend his decision to provide near-real-time updates about the investigation on social media, after a post on X the day of the shooting initially stated that a subject was in custody and later clarified that the person had been released after questioning. The early posts drew criticism from members of both parties and prompted public debate about investigative protocol and transparency.

"It's important that this FBI is as transparent as possible without jeopardizing investigations," Patel said at the oversight hearing, which had been scheduled before Kirk's killing but shifted focus after the shooting to the broader issues of political violence, online radicalization and firearms. Patel said rapid public release of evidence helped identify the suspect, and that the bureau’s approach was intended to work with the public during the manhunt.

Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) accused Patel of being "anxious to take credit" and suggested the director had inappropriately broadcast preliminary investigative steps. "Mr. Patel was so anxious to take credit for finding Mr. Kirk's assassin that he violated one of the basics of effective law enforcement — at critical stages of an investigation, shut up and let the professionals do their job," Durbin said.

Patel acknowledged on the record that the initial X post "could have been worded a little better," but said he did not regret providing information as the investigation progressed. He told Fox & Friends earlier that the FBI's goal was to eliminate targets who were not involved and that public engagement had been decisive in this case.

Lawmakers also pressed Patel about how to address threatening online activity without curbing lawful speech. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said free speech does not allow people "to go on the internet and basically incite somebody to kill another person," a point Patel agreed with during questioning.

President Donald Trump, speaking at a White House event Monday, said he believed the alleged gunman was radicalized online. Attorney General Pam Bondi argued parents should monitor children’s online activity, cautioning that responsibility for preventing radicalization was not only a matter for technology companies.

The FBI's remarks on the alleged Discord chat add to a larger law enforcement effort to determine whether online groups or individuals aided or encouraged the attack, and whether additional charges or arrests are warranted. Discord has pushed back on reports that its platform was used to coordinate the shooting, saying it was not the venue for prior discussion of the attack.

Patel, who has faced criticism from some senators over his conduct and public communications, reiterated his commitment to the bureau and to cooperating with congressional oversight. "I'm honored to be the 9th director of the FBI," he said, adding, "I'm not going anywhere. If you want to criticize my 16 years of service — please, bring it on."

Investigators continue to collect evidence and interview people tied to the case. The Senate hearing underscored the intersection of online communication, political violence and the challenges facing law enforcement as officials seek to balance transparency with investigative integrity while addressing the risks of radicalization in online spaces.