Prosecutors Say Charlie Kirk Was Targeted for His Conservative Views

Prosecutors in the Charlie Kirk assassination case say that he was targeted because of his conservative beliefs.

Defendant Tyler Robinson allegedly went after the conservative commentator due to his stance on gay marriage and transgender rights, according to prosecutors’ written arguments filed with the court ahead of a Sept. 1 hearing.

The documents offered prosecutors’ most extensive comments yet on the shooter’s possible motive.

Robinson, 23, is accused of fatally shooting Kirk, 31, founder of conservative organization Turning Point USA.

The Sept. 10, 2025, shooting took place at Utah Valley University in front of thousands, in person and watching live streams of the event.

Prosecutors from the Utah County Attorney’s Office quoted a letter in evidence from a friend of Kirk’s that stated the influencer’s goal in his tour was to promote conservative values.

In a letter entered into evidence, David Engelhardt, a Turning Point USA board member, wrote that Kirk believed “experimentation with sexual/gender identity is sinful” and that “heterosexuality inside the confines of a marriage is the only virtuous pattern for sexuality.”

On July 9, Richard Novak, Robinson’s defense attorney, argued against the point, saying there was no evidence that the defendant disagreed with Kirk’s political or religious views.

Previously, the prosecution attorneys said Robinson had a partner—Lance Twiggs—of the same sex and lived a lifestyle in contradiction to Kirk’s religious and political views, prompting Robinson to target Kirk.

“The circumstantial evidence that Defendant targeted Mr. Kirk because of Defendant’s belief or perception of Mr. Kirk’s political beliefs is overwhelming,” prosecutors said in written arguments filed after the preliminary hearing.

Prosecutors included alleged text messages between Robinson and Twiggs in which the defendant allegedly told Twiggs that “he had had enough of [Kirk’s] hatred” and that “some hate can’t be negotiated out.”

If Robinson is convicted as charged, he could face the death penalty.

The judge in the case, Judge Tony Graf Jr., previously rejected defense lawyers’ request to remove the death penalty as an option. However, he did hold Utah County Deputy Attorney Christopher Ballard in contempt for violating a gag order.

Graf ruled on June 26 that the prosecuting attorney violated the order when he publicly commented about bullet testing in the case.

Graf stated that Ballard went beyond “merely correcting the ballistics record.”

The attorney had told members of the media that prosecutors thought it was possible to overcome the presumption of innocence with the evidence available to them, the judge said.

However, the judge ruled that taking away the possibility of the death penalty as a result would be too harsh and inappropriate for a “civil contempt” violation rather than a criminal one, the judge said. Graf agreed to “encourage future compliance” and issue “a meaningful remedy.”

Janice Hisle and Reuters contributed to this report.