A U.S. Secret Service employee was placed on immediate administrative leave and is the subject of an internal investigation after celebrating the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk in a social media post, the agency confirmed.
"The U.S. Secret Service will not tolerate behavior that violates our code of conduct. This employee was immediately put on administrative leave, and an investigation has begun," a U.S. Secret Service spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Friday.
The employee was identified by media reports as Anthony Pough. RealClearPolitics reported that Pough posted on Facebook celebrating Kirk’s death and accusing the slain conservative commentator of "spewing 'racism.'" In the post, Pough wrote, "If you are Mourning [sic] this guy .. delete me. He spewed hate and racism on his show," and added, "Especially when we should be mourning the innocent children killed in Colorado," referencing an Evergreen High School shooting that left two students injured this week. Pough also wrote that "karma" accounted for Kirk’s shooting, according to screenshots of the post published by media outlets.
Charlie Kirk was shot while attending a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025. Authorities said a single shot struck Kirk in the neck. He was transported to a local hospital and was pronounced dead hours later. Kirk, 27, is survived by his wife, Erika Kirk, and their two children, ages 1 and 3. Vice President J.D. Vance and second lady Usha Vance accompanied Kirk’s casket back to Arizona on Thursday via Air Force Two as memorials in his honor took place across the United States and abroad.
Utah officials later identified 22-year-old Tyler Robinson as a suspect in the shooting. Gov. Spencer Cox said Friday that Robinson was apprehended the evening of Sept. 11 after a family member of Robinson contacted a friend, who in turn reached out to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office with information that Robinson had confessed or implied responsibility for the incident. President Donald Trump said on Friday during a television appearance that a suspect had been taken into custody.
RealClearPolitics reported that Pough was in "Phase 2" of his Secret Service career, a staffing level the agency describes on its website as focused on protective assignments. The Secret Service classifies special agents in phases, with Phase 3 later focusing on post-protective field, protection or headquarters assignments. The agency said Pough had not been regularly assigned to a detail protecting the president.
The Secret Service did not provide additional details about the scope of its review or whether criminal charges against the employee are under consideration. The agency historically subjects employees to internal discipline and, when warranted, refers matters to prosecutors. Officials emphasized that protecting dignitaries and other designated individuals requires adherence to a code of conduct intended to ensure impartiality and public trust.
The killing of Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and frequent media commentator, prompted national attention and debate about political rhetoric and security at public events. Law enforcement agencies continue to investigate the shooting, the suspect’s motive and any possible accomplices. Memorials and vigils were held in multiple cities, and authorities urged anyone with relevant information to contact investigators.
The Secret Service statement and media reports mark the latest in a series of personnel and conduct reviews across federal agencies following high-profile acts of political violence. The agency said its internal inquiry into the employee’s social media activity is ongoing and that any final personnel actions will follow the outcome of that review.