The U.S. Secret Service placed an employee on administrative leave Thursday after he posted on social media criticizing those mourning Charlie Kirk and suggesting the slain conservative activist had brought "karma" upon himself, agency officials said.
Anthony Pough, identified in social media posts reviewed by news outlets, shared a clip of Kirk in which the Turning Point USA founder is heard criticizing several public figures as "affirmative action picks," and wrote on Facebook that anyone mourning Kirk should "delete me. He spewed hate and racism on his show." Pough added that people should instead be mourning victims of a recent school shooting in Colorado and wrote, "At the end of the day, you answer to GOD and speak things into existence. You can only circumvent karma, she doesnt [sic] leave."
"The U.S. Secret Service will not tolerate any behavior which violates our code of conduct," a Secret Service spokesperson said in a statement. "We are aware of the employee's social media post from today, and the individual has been placed on administrative leave as we investigate the matter." The agency did not disclose the duration of the leave or the specific allegations under review.
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot Wednesday during a question-and-answer session at Utah Valley University while on his American Comeback Tour. He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Kirk is survived by his wife and two young children. Authorities have said the gunman remains at large and the shooting was carried out by a sniper; investigators continue to seek leads.
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. Conservative and liberal commentators across the country expressed grief, anger and debate over the killing and its political implications.
Pough's post reportedly upset colleagues who saw it online before it was reported to agency officials. The employee has previously posted about his work with the Secret Service and has criticized aspects of the Trump administration on social media, according to posts cited by news organizations. In February he wrote that he was "proud of the work we do," and in subsequent months posted commentary critical of political rhetoric and cultural debates.
The incident adds to scrutiny of the Secret Service, which has faced criticism over a series of recent security lapses. In late August an agent was suspended after a club member was able to bring a Glock into Trump National Golf Club Washington, D.C., undetected. The agency also faced questions after two high-profile attacks last year in which the then-president was struck by a bullet that grazed his ear at a Pennsylvania rally and an apparent assassination attempt close enough to have been deadly.
Public reaction to Kirk's death has been mixed. Some commentators emphasized Kirk's prominence as a conservative organizer and the resulting national outpouring of grief, while others highlighted past controversies over his rhetoric. Shortly after the killing, former MSNBC contributor Matthew Dowd said Kirk was a "controversial figure" who "is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech aimed at certain groups," comments that led to Dowd's dismissal from the network.
The Secret Service said it would continue its review and take any appropriate action if the employee's conduct is found to have violated agency policies. The investigation into Kirk's killing remains active, and federal and local law enforcement agencies are coordinating on the probe.