Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon said he does not accept the prosecutors’ account that a single gunman killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and urged investigators to broaden the probe to explore possible wider conspiracies.
Utah prosecutors on Tuesday released text messages they say were sent by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson to his partner Lance Twiggs in which Robinson allegedly admits to killing Kirk at Utah Valley University last week and says he "had enough of his hatred." Robinson has been charged with murder and faces the death penalty if convicted.
Bannon, speaking on his War Room podcast, described the released texts as "too stilted" and "like a bad script," and said he believed the public account did not explain all the circumstances surrounding the killing. "You’ve gotta get to the bottom of these groups, you’ve gotta get to the bottom of Antifa, you’ve gotta see if there’s any connections to Butler," Bannon said, urging law enforcement to expand the inquiry beyond a single perpetrator. He repeated similar calls in an interview with Politico, saying investigators and the administration should consider a range of executive actions, including labeling Antifa a domestic terrorist organization.
Prosecutors say the texts include an admission of the killing and an expressed motive. Media released excerpts show Robinson allegedly told Twiggs he had "enough of his hatred." Officials also noted that in the immediate aftermath, Robinson’s messages expressed concern about losing his grandfather’s rifle rather than remorse — a detail Bannon cited as evidence that the official narrative did not add up.
President Donald Trump and other senior administration officials blamed what they described as the "radical left" in the immediate aftermath of the killing. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said Robinson was allegedly motivated by "leftist ideology." FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency was reviewing a Discord group chat in which Robinson allegedly discussed the killing; Patel said all members of the online chat would be investigated.
The release of the messages and Bannon’s public skepticism have intensified calls from commentators across the political spectrum for a transparent review of the evidence and of any online networks that may have influenced the accused. Law enforcement officials have said they are continuing to examine multiple leads, including digital communications and potential contacts, and that charging decisions followed review of available evidence.
Robinson’s arraignment is scheduled in Utah; he remains in custody pending further court proceedings. Prosecutors say available evidence, including the texts and other investigative material, supports the charges filed. Defense representatives have not filed extensive public statements disputing the prosecutors’ account.
The killing has sharpened partisan rhetoric nationally, with conservative leaders calling for swift action against groups they portray as violent opponents and some on the left urging caution against politicizing an active criminal investigation. Law enforcement officials have emphasized that criminal investigations and any potential designations of extremist groups involve separate legal and evidentiary standards.
As investigators continue to review digital communications and other material, legal experts say any move to treat the incident as part of a broader conspiracy would require corroborating evidence tying other individuals or organizations to the planning or facilitation of the attack. Prosecutors have the burden of proving such connections in court if they pursue additional charges beyond the defendant now in custody.
The case remains under active investigation, and officials have called for patience while evidence is collected and reviewed. Meanwhile, public debate over the motives behind the killing and over broader questions about political violence and online radicalization is likely to continue as the criminal case moves forward.