Prosecutors Plan To ‘Dirty Up’ Kirk Suspect To Sway Jury: Former U.S. Attorney
Prosecutors in Utah are preparing to paint accused killer Tyler Robinson in the harshest possible light, hoping a jury will hand down the death penalty for the murder of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Neama Rahmani told Fox News that the strategy will likely center on portraying Robinson as a politically motivated extremist — a tactic designed to “dirty up” the defendant during the sentencing phase.
“The Utah County prosecutor is going to try to put Robinson to death, and the motive for the killing is going to be something that is key evidence in the case. It’s going to dirty up Robinson,” Rahmani said.
Authorities say Robinson gunned down Kirk during a TPUSA event on September 10 at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The 31-year-old conservative leader and father of two was shot in front of an audience, including children. Robinson now faces a list of charges — aggravated murder, two counts of obstructing justice, criminal discharge of a handgun inflicting serious bodily injury, two counts of witness tampering, and committing a violent crime in front of a child.
Investigators claim Robinson told his roommate, Lance Twiggs, to “look under my keyboard.” Beneath it, police found a note that read: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I’m going to take it.” When Twiggs texted him, “You weren’t the one who did it right????” Robinson allegedly replied, “I am, I’m sorry,” according to court documents.
Rahmani said this evidence will weigh heavily in the prosecution’s argument for capital punishment. “To the extent that the prosecution has to get 12 out of 12 jurors to return that death sentence. The motive for the crime will be an important reason why the prosecution may get there,” he explained.
He added that Robinson’s alleged political motive makes the case even more damning. “So when jurors are weighing the death penalty, the reason why someone killed another human being, if it was for political reasons, that’s certainly an aggravated factor.”
Still, Rahmani noted that unanimity is required for the death penalty: “Even one or two jurors could save Tyler Robinson’s life. And just from a pure numbers perspective, there are some people that have a difficult time looking another human being in the eye and giving them lethal injection or the firing squad.”
He also suggested the defense may attempt to argue “radicalization” during the guilt phase, but warned that the approach could backfire. “It’s going to dirty up Robinson. The jurors are not going to like him because not only is there no legal justification for what he did, but there’s really no moral one whatsoever,” Rahmani said.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox has already characterized the killing as a “political assassination,” noting that one of the bullets allegedly fired by Robinson was engraved with the words, “Hey fascist, catch.”
“I think that speaks for itself,” Cox said at a press conference.
Defense attorney Kathryn Nester has yet to comment on the prosecution’s assertions. In court last week, she indicated the defense reserves the right to request a preliminary hearing — a move that would force prosecutors to present key evidence and allow cross-examination of witnesses before the trial advances.
Robinson is due back in court on October 30 as the case continues to develop — one that’s already sending shockwaves through both the legal and political landscape.