A former Michigan county prosecutor provoked widespread criticism after she posted on social media that Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk effectively bore responsibility for his own assassination because of his public defense of gun rights.
Carol Siemon, who stepped down in 2022 as Ingham County prosecutor, wrote on X that she was "terribly sorry when anyone is shot," but added, "I’m sure he doesn’t mind because he has said that shootings and gun deaths are a price he is willing to pay for nearly unfettered abilities to possess and use firearms. I support sensible firearm control, and perhaps he will too." Siemon did not respond to a request for comment and her account appears to have been deleted.
Kirk, 31, was shot and killed Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, where he had been leading his American Comeback Tour and taking questions from audience members. The conservative activist, a prominent voice in right-leaning politics and the founder of the youth organization Turning Point USA, was a father of two. His death prompted vigils and tributes from supporters and colleagues across the country.
The post by Siemon drew immediate rebuke from politicians and online commentators. Tom Leonard, a former Michigan House speaker and current candidate for governor, called her comments "politicizing the murder of a young father and husband" and criticized her tenure as prosecutor, saying it was "rich coming from a prosecutor that refused to prosecute gun crimes, making Lansing one of the most dangerous cities in the country during your time in office."
Siemon, elected in 2016 as Ingham County’s first female prosecutor, faced repeated criticism during her term for what some called a lenient approach to criminal prosecutions and for clashes with law enforcement and the judiciary. In 2019, she allowed Anthony McRae — who would later be convicted in a 2023 Michigan State University shooting that left three dead and five injured — to plead a felony gun charge down to a misdemeanor, a decision that meant McRae avoided jail time and retained the ability to purchase firearms, according to court records and reporting. In 2022, Ingham County Judge Rosemarie Aquilina rejected a plea deal Siemon had negotiated for a convicted murderer, accusing the prosecutor of trying "to be creative to get around the law" and publicly calling for her resignation.
Siemon left office in 2022 amid the controversies. Her recent social post has refocused attention on those decisions as well as broader debates over gun policy and political rhetoric after public figures are targeted.
Kirk’s assassination has set off an outpouring of grief among conservative activists and elected officials and has intensified discussions about security at public events and the tone of political discourse. Law enforcement agencies are investigating the circumstances of the shooting; authorities have provided limited details while they continue to gather evidence and interview witnesses.
The episode underscores how quickly commentary on social media can become a focal point in the wake of a high-profile, politically charged killing. Siemon’s removal of her account followed a surge of criticism, but her remarks remain part of the public record through screenshots and archived posts cited by critics and news outlets.
Kirk’s death and the reaction to Siemon’s comments reflect a sharply polarized national environment in which the roles of public officials, social media platforms, and political rhetoric are being reexamined in the wake of violence. News organizations and officials continue to report developments as investigations proceed and as communities hold vigils in memory of the slain activist.