A Secret Service agent has been placed on administrative leave after posting on social media that Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting was "karma," prompting a Republican senator to demand his firing.
The agent, identified by media reports as 36-year-old Anthony Pough of Royersford, Pennsylvania, wrote in a now-deleted Facebook post that anyone mourning Kirk should "delete me," and accused the conservative commentator of having "spewed hate and racism on his show." The post, first reported by RealClearPolitics and obtained by other outlets, added: "Especially when we should be mourning the innocent children killed in Colorado," and "At the end of the day, you answer to GOD and speak things into existence. You can only circumvent karma, she doesnt [sic] leave."
Kirk, a conservative commentator and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot while speaking at Utah Valley University on Wednesday in front of an audience of roughly 3,000 people. He was struck in the neck by a bullet fired from the roof of the Losee Center, according to law enforcement accounts, and later died of his injuries. Utah authorities arrested 23-year-old Tyler Robinson on Thursday night in southern Utah after a multi-day manhunt. Officials said Robinson may face capital charges if convicted.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., wrote to Secret Service Director Sean Curran on Friday, saying Pough "celebrated and attempted to justify a political assassination" and urging the agency to "immediately terminate his employment." Blackburn said in the letter that the conduct was "inexcusable" and urged agency leadership to ensure the employee "never steps foot in Secret Service headquarters ever again." She also called the agency "full of political actors" and said it was in "desperate need of reform."
A Secret Service spokesperson told the Daily Mail that the agency "will not tolerate behavior that violates our code of conduct." The agency confirmed the agent had been placed on leave as it reviews the matter. The agency did not provide further details, and the agent could not be reached for comment through the contact information listed in the reporting.
Investigators said Robinson was taken into custody after a tip from a family member who told a friend that Robinson had confessed or implied involvement in the shooting, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said at a news conference. The governor said Robinson had become more political recently and had expressed dislike for Kirk to family members, calling him "full of hate." Law enforcement officials told reporters that shell casings recovered at the scene bore engraved messages with anti-fascist themes and other insults, including an inscription referencing the Italian anti-fascist song "Bella Ciao" and phrases such as "Hey Fascists, Catch!" and "If You Read This You Are Gay LMAO." Authorities said two shots had been fired at the event and that Robinson later died from an apparent self-inflicted wound after he opened fire at a different location, though officials continue to release details through ongoing investigations.
Kirk had been a frequent commentator on conservative media and had in recent years criticized public figures and institutions. The agent shared a clip alongside his Facebook comments in which Kirk had accused several high-profile Black figures — including journalist Joy Reid, former first lady Michelle Obama and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson — of being "affirmative action picks." In that clip, Kirk said Jackson did not "have the brain processing power to otherwise be taken really seriously," comments that drew criticism from opponents and supporters alike.
The Facebook post also referenced a separate shooting at Evergreen High School near Denver earlier the same day in which a 16-year-old, identified by authorities as Desmond Holly, opened fire, injuring two students before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Pough’s post linked the two violent incidents in a comment decrying public mourning for Kirk while other victims suffered.
The Secret Service has said it will investigate allegations of misconduct. Agency leadership has faced scrutiny in recent years over political neutrality and the conduct of some employees, and Blackburn’s letter invoked a previously stated commitment by Curran to accountability within the agency. It remains unclear whether the administrative leave will result in termination or other disciplinary measures as the review proceeds.
Robinson’s arrest capped a search that lasted more than a day after the shooting. Police earlier offered a reward for information leading to his capture. Prosecutors have said that if Robinson is charged and convicted in the killing, he could face the death penalty. Local and federal authorities continue to investigate the events surrounding the shooting and are expected to release further details as the cases progress.