The FBI is looking into whether people close to Charlie Kirk's assassin had foreknowledge of the horrific murder, as evidence mounts of the killer's connection to the radical left.
While no one else is facing charges at this time, alleged shooter Tyler Robinson told somebody he would murder Kirk over his political beliefs, FBI director Kash Patel said Monday. Patel did not specify who that individual was.
“He had a text message exchange with another individual in which he claimed that he had an opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk — and he was going to do it because of his hatred for what Charlie stood for,” Patel told Fox & Friends.
Patel said the FBI is still looking into why the other person did not report the exchange to police and Patel did not say whether that person will face charges.
Robinson also wrote a note saying he had an opportunity to kill Kirk, Patel said. The note was left inside the home that Robinson shared with a transgender boyfriend, who has been identified as 22-year-old Lance Twiggs.
Twiggs is cooperating with police and has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
A family member told Fox News that they believe Twiggs "hates Christians" and that he may have helped radicalize Robinson, who was raised Mormon.
Twiggs reportedly comes from a conservative Christian family, reports the Daily Mail, and he is part of the "furry" subculture, which is based on a sexual interest in anthropomorphic animals.
The spent casing from the bullet that killed Kirk had the phrase, "Notices bulge OwO what’s this?” which is a reference to a furry meme. Another bullet casing had a message taunting Kirk as a "fascist."
Kirk was answering a question about the role of transgenders in mass shootings right before he was shot.
People on the left have asserted, without evidence, that Robinson is a Republican. His family members have told investigators that he was becoming very left-wing in recent years, FBI director Patel said.
"His family has said that he subscribed to left-wing ideology, and even more so in these last couple of years," Patel told Fox News.
All we know at this stage is that Robinson is tied to the left, and he appears to have warned people about his murder plot beforehand. Whether anyone else is facing criminal exposure remains to be seen.
Fox News host Brian Kilmeade is apologizing for some shocking comments he made on TV the other day.
The usually even-keeled host caused outrage after he suggested that mentally ill homeless people should be put to death. Kilmeade is now asking for forgiveness for his "extremely callous" statement.
Kilmeade's remark came as the brutal murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska has thrust urban crime back into the spotlight, fueling a fresh debate over how to protect riders on public transit from dangerous vagrants.
A homeless, mentally ill repeat offender, Decarlos Brown Jr., was charged with stabbing Zarutska in the neck on a North Carolina train in August.
During a discussion of the horrific, unprovoked murder on Fox and Friends, co-host Lawrence Jones said that mentally ill people who refuse help should be put in jail. Kilmeade went a step beyond and proposed something wildly draconian.
"Or involuntary lethal or something, just kill them," Kilmeade said.
The remark passed unnoticed by Jones and co-host Ainsley Earhardt, who added, "Yeah, Brian, why did it have to get to this point?"
A few days later, Kilmeade faced his audience and admitted he messed up.
"We were discussing the murder of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina and how to stop these kinds of attacks by homeless, mentally ill assailants, including institutionalizing or jailing such people so they cannot attack again," Kilmeade said.
"Now during that discussion, I wrongly said they should get lethal injections. I apologize for that extremely callous remark."
"I am obviously aware that not all mentally ill, homeless people act as the perpetrator did in North Carolina and that so many homeless people deserve our empathy and compassion."
President Trump has called for re-opening insane asylums, which were gradually phased out in the 20th century over concerns about cruel and inhumane treatment.
While Kilmeade's execution remark drew the most attention, he had also urged people to "wake up" and vote for change.
"You can't put — keep putting these people in power. They woke up in Los Angeles, they got a stronger D.A," he said.
Obviously, Kilmeade's suggestion of killing homeless people is cruel and beyond the pale, but the status quo in many blue cities is too extreme in the other direction.
A pathological softness toward criminals has too often allowed dangerous people to roam free, placing innocent people in harm's way. That needs to change, no question.
President Trump is shaking up the leadership of the FBI, fueling speculation about director Kash Patel's future, but the White House dismiss the rumors as mere talk.
As reported by Fox News, former Missouri Attorney general Andrew Bailey was sworn in as co-deputy director on Monday, in an unprecedented power-sharing arrangement with current No. 2, Dan Bongino.
Bailey's appointment had been announced in August, before the assassination of Charlie Kirk put FBI leadership back in the spotlight.
When the shakeup was first announced, there were questions about whether deputy director Bongino was being sidelined following a clash with attorney general Pam Bondi over the Epstein files. Bongino reportedly gave Trump an ultimatum, threatening to quit unless Bondi was fired.
The exact reason for Bailey's appointment as co-deputy is still unclear. Bailey left Missouri with the expectation of replacing Patel eventually, Fox reported, citing "Patel’s harshest critics."
A senior White House source dismissed talk about Patel being reassigned to a different role, saying the chatter is coming from people with a vested interest in forcing him out, Fox News said.
Trump's leadership team put on a united front in response to Fox News, rejecting speculation of Patel's ouster.
"Any suggestion that I was brought in to replace anyone in leadership at the FBI or spin my appointment into a sign of division, is simply false - I am honored to serve the FBI and Department of Justice as we work together to keep our nation safe," Bailey told Fox News.
While Fox claims that Bondi and her deputy, Todd Blanche, lack confidence in Patel, they both denied the claim.
"We work with Director Patel every single day and fully support his leadership at the FBI. The suspect is in handcuffs today because of the outstanding work of Director Patel and our law enforcement partners. Any suggestion to the contrary does not reflect the reality of our strong working relationship and shared commitment to protecting the American people," Bondi and Blanche said.
During the manhunt for Charlie Kirk's killer, Patel was slammed for prematurely claiming that the suspect was in custody. He was also criticized for invoking the Norse afterlife, Valhalla, in a tribute to Kirk at a press conference where 22-year-old Tyler Robinson was named as the suspect.
Patel's defenders have noted the 33-hour search was over relatively quickly after the FBI shared images that led to Robinson being confronted by his father.
When asked about his FBI over the weekend, Trump said he is happy with everyone.
"I am very proud of the FBI," Trump told Fox News Digital Saturday. "Kash — and everyone else — they have done a great job."
British former world champion boxer Ricky Hatton has died at age 46, according to the Associated Press.
Police reported Sunday that Hatton was found dead at his home in Greater Manchester, and police are not treating the death as suspicious.
“Officers were called by a member of the public to attend Bowlacre Road, Hyde, Tameside, at 6:45am today where they found the body of a 46-year-old man,” Greater Manchester Police said in a statement. “There are not currently believed to be any suspicious circumstances.”
Hatton was open about his struggles with alcohol and drugs, but it was not clear whether those contributed to his death.
His parents made a lengthy statement about his death to the Manchester Evening News.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved son Richard. Richard was so much more than a world champion. To us he was simply ‘Richard’, our son. A loving father, grandfather, and brother, and a true friend to many,” it read.
“He had a heart as big as his smile, and his kindness, humour and loyalty touched everyone who was lucky enough to know him. To the wider world, Richard will always be remembered as one of boxing’s greatest champions — a man who gave everything inside the ring and wore his heart on his sleeve outside of it,” the statement went on.
“He inspired generations with his fighting spirit, his humility, and his love for the sport. But beyond the titles, the nights to remember, and the roar of the crowd, he remained the same down-to-earth Richard who never forgot where he came from.
“As a family, our loss is immeasurable, and words cannot truly capture the pain we feel. Yet in the midst of our grief, we have been deeply moved by the overwhelming outpouring of love and support,” they said on behalf of his family.
Hatton had a decade of estrangement from his parents, which ended with their reconciliation in 2019.
Hatton had 3 children: Campbell, 24, who was also a boxer (now retired); Millie 13, and Fearne, 12. He also had a granddaughter Lyla, 7.
He didn't have a wife or girlfriend at the time of his death.
He was considering a comeback to boxing after leaving the sport in 2012 with light-welterweight and welterweight world titles.
After his exit, he coached Zhanat Zhakiyanov to a world bantamweight title win in 2017.
Raymond Lopez, the Democratic alderman for Chicago’s 15th Ward on its crime-plagued south side, told the New York Post on Sunday that "probably half" of his colleagues want the National Guard to help bring order back to Chicago and reduce crime, but are too afraid to say it.
“This is a very real war that we are fighting here, and we need every tool box to win it,” Lopez said.
He said he didn't mind that President Donald Trump, a Republican, would be the one to help the city.
“If that means working with a Republican president to keep Chicagoans safe, then that is what we should be doing. We shouldn’t be playing politics with people’s lives,” he added.
Lopez's ward has seen horrific crimes over his 10-year tenure and wants to see it end.
“We have human traffickers connected with Tren de Aragua here selling women for $150 on Facebook Marketplace. I had high school students gunned down by a Venezuelan migrant on their way home from school a couple of weeks ago,” Lopez described.
“We now even have gang versus gang warfare that’s taken an international turn because of some of the migrants that are here,” he added.
If Trump decides to federalize Chicago in a similar way to his takeover of D.C., crime could drop dramatically; D.C. has seen a 45% drop in crime and shootings fall to almost zero since August.
A similar effort was undertaken in 2016, with similar results, but was abandoned after a month because of how it would look politically.
Now, there are dozens of shootings every week in the city, and many of them are right on Lopez's South Side.
“I live this everyday,” he said. “I see in real terms, in real time, the criminality that exists in our communities and its impact on my residents and on law abiding people of Chicago who just want to get by, want to be able to go to work, drop our kids off, to sit on the front porch, not becoming the victim of violent crime.”
“I haven’t lost touch with that fact, and sadly, I think many in the Democratic elite have,” he added.
“I’d say probably half the city council is in favor of it,” Lopez said, adding, “I don’t know if anyone is willing to stand up against the billionaire governor because of fear that he would dump money into their opponent’s campaigns,” he said. “But I think there is definitely quiet support between my colleagues and other individuals.”
As for the people of his ward, he thinks they “overwhelmingly” support the idea.
“They see through the gaslighting that’s going on by many of my colleagues and peers, who are just content on pushing forward the anti-Trump narrative so they can appear to be doing something for the people of Chicago,” Lopez said.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) said during several Sunday appearances on news shows that the alleged shooter of Charlie Kirk, Tyler Robinson, is not cooperating with authorities, although his family and roommate are.
“He has not confessed to, to authorities,” Cox told ABC News’s This Week co-anchor Martha Raddatz. “He is, he is, he is not cooperating, but, but, but all the people around him are cooperating. And I think that’s, that’s, that’s very important.”
Robinson, age 22, was arrested on Friday, and is expected to be formally charged on Tuesday.
Cox also clarified several reports that have gone around the media and social media since Robinson was arrested.
On NBC’s Meet the Press, Cox said that Robinson was not a Republican or a conservative, though his family was conservative.
“We can confirm…according to family and people we are interviewing, he does come from a conservative family but his ideology was very different than his family,” he told the show.
Cox also confirmed that Robinson was in a romantic relationship with his transgender roommate, who is transitioning from male to female.
The roommate “did not have any knowledge (of the assassination), was shocked when they found out about it,” Cox said, adding that they have been "very cooperative."
Authorities are still investigating how the roommate's transitioning played into Robinson's motive, but it seems pretty clear that Robinson had anger towards Kirk for comments he had made about transgender ideology.
Cox also confirmed that Robinson joked around with friends on a Discord chat about being the gunman, and then admitted it was really him.
“All we can confirm is that those conversations definitely were happening, and they did not believe it was actually him. It was, it was all joking until, until he, you know, until he admitted that it actually was him,” Cox said.
Robinson had been a "very normal, very smart" young man who attended Utah State University for a semester before dropping out after one semester.
After dropping out, Robinson spent a lot of his time gaming and discovered the “deep, dark internet, the Reddit culture and these other dark places,” Cox said.
More information will be forthcoming when formal charges are filed on Tuesday, Cox said on all the Sunday shows.
Accused Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson is being held under “special watch” inside the Utah County Jail, where he is awaiting formal charges for Kirk's shooting on Wednesday.
The Utah County Sheriff’s Office told TMZ on Saturday that Robinson, 22, will be held under "special watch" pending a mental health evaluation to determine if he is a danger to himself or to others.
Obviously, there are other reasons to keep Robinson under special watch to ensure that no one else has the opportunity to get to Robinson and make sure that he takes his side of this tragedy to the grave.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, Robinson told his father that he would rather kill himself than be handed over to the police when confronted by his family following the shooting.
While Robinson hasn't been formally charged with anything, everyone has a vested interest in Robinson remaining alive and being forced to testify and divulge his motive in killing Kirk in such a horrific way.
Police have Robinson under surveillance 24 hours a day via security cameras that are positioned in the special housing unit. It's likely that prison guards are periodically checking in on Robinson as well to ensure his well-being.
Robinson will be charged this coming week, likely with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, and obstruction of justice.
Aggravated murder is the most important charge that will be filed against Robinson, as it carries the death penalty as a possible sentence. Utah Governor Spencer Cox mentioned the death penalty in his initial statements on Kirk's assassination.
Robinson is alleged to have killed Kirk during an appearance at Utah Valley University, where Kirk was taking questions in front of a crowd of hundreds of students and fans.
Kirk was answering a question about transgender mass shooters during his “Prove Me Wrong” segment when a shot rang out, and Kirk was hit in the neck. The bleeding was instant and profuse, and this horrifying incident was extremely traumatic for all in attendance.
Of course, this tragedy has been traumatic for the entire nation as radical leftists have been openly celebrating Kirk's death, with some even calling for more violence against conservatives, including Kirk's wife, Erika Kirk.
Kirk's assassination could very well be a turning point for the United States. Kirk's death shocked Americans of all political persuasions, and the reaction of the monsters on the far-left further ingrained that shock and horror.
Kirk had been working for his whole life to effect a massive shift in the culture and he may have succeeded at that goal, albeit at the cost of his own life. Already, thousands of young Americans are rallying to Turning Point USA's banners.
Kirk's ideas and vision will live on stronger than ever because of his martyrdom and Robinson will face justice, likely the death penalty, if Utah's leadership has anything to do with it.
In a notable conclusion to a high-profile bribery scandal, Nadine Menendez, the wife of former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, was sentenced to 54 months in prison, The Hill reported.
Nadine's sentencing marks a significant chapter in the bribery case involving trading political influence for personal gain.
The legal proceedings uncovered that Nadine Menendez played a significant role in a bribery scheme alongside her husband. Convicted in April, her involvement included the exchange of her husband's political influence for bribes, such as cash, gold bars, and a luxury vehicle.
During the sentencing, U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein acknowledged several mitigating factors that led to a more lenient sentence than the seven years prosecutors had initially sought.
These factors included Nadine’s health struggles, her age of 58, challenging personal history, and early life in Lebanon—all contributing to Judge Stein's decision. The judge emphasized that the sentence should serve as a deterrent against similar offenses in the future.
"People have to understand there are consequences," Judge Stein remarked, underscoring the intended message of the sentence.
During her trial, Nadine portrayed herself as being under her husband's manipulation, claiming she was compelled to act upon his demands.
Through tears, she expressed her disbelief at the situations she found herself in, stating, "I would never have imagined someone of his ranking putting me in this position." Nadine admitted a lack of judgment in her involvement, distancing herself from her husband's actions.
Her husband, Bob Menendez, who is currently serving an 11-year sentence for his part in the bribery scheme and for acting as an agent of the Egyptian government, defended her character in a letter to the court. He argued that it was incorrect to claim Nadine was primarily driven by monetary motivations.
The breadth of the bribery scheme not only ensnared the Menendez couple but also involved other businessmen, two of whom are currently serving prison terms. Another business associate has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.
The prosecutors described Nadine Menendez’s involvement as eager and significant, stating she was "Second only to Menendez" in the scheme. On the contrary, Nadine sought a reduced sentence of just over a year, citing a need for ongoing treatment for breast cancer, influencing the judge's decision on the delay of prison surrender until July 10.
Her legal team also presented documentation regarding her health complications from a plastic surgeon to further substantiate her plea for a lesser sentence.
The case has stirred discussions about the implications of personal responsibility and the influence of powerful individuals in compromising ethical boundaries.
The sentencing of Nadine Menendez closes a chapter on this particular instance of political corruption, but it also highlights ongoing concerns about the integrity of individuals in positions of power. The community continues to watch closely as the justice system addresses these significant breaches of trust.
As this legal battle concludes, the echoes of its outcomes are likely to influence future political and legal standards concerning corruption and accountability in public office.
Despite backlash from all levels on the left, President Donald Trump used his military authority to deploy National Guard troops to the streets of Washington D.C. to help local law enforcement clean up the city's obvious crime problem.
Now that it's clear that such assistance is highly beneficial to local and state cops, according to the Daily Caller, President Trump has announced where he will soon be sending the next batch of National Guard units.
During an interview on "Fox & Friends," President Trump expressed his willingness to deploy the National Guard wherever the country needs it in order to crack down on crime, and Memphis, Tennessee, could be the next stop.
The president was adamant that he would deploy whatever assets necessary to help quell the city's crime problem, which is on par with what Washington D.C. was dealing with.
As he usually does, President Trump held nothing back when detailing his plans regarding sending in the troops wherever the need arises.
"I think maybe I’ll be the first to say it right now, again, we’re going to Memphis. Memphis is deeply troubled, and the mayor is happy, he is a Democrat mayor, the mayor is happy, and the governor of Tennessee, the governor is happy, deeply troubled. We’re going to fix that, just like we did Washington," Trump said.
Reports surfaced earlier this month that Trump was set on sending troops into Chicago, but wanted the city's leaders to welcome the idea first.
Instead, he explained why he and his administration landed on the idea of going into Memphis after talking to the head of Union Pacific.
“And I said, ‘what do you think, where should we go next?’ as a city? Cause we are going on, two, and then we will do a few at a time. He said ‘sir, Memphis would be good because, he’s on board of FedEx, ‘when I walk one block to my hotel, they put me in an armored vehicle with bullet-proof glass to take me one block.’ He said it is terrible," the president said.
🚨 BREAKING: President Trump just announced he will be sending the National Guard into MEMPHIS
Both the Republican Governor AND the Democrat Mayor are happy with this
"We're bringing in the National Guard... and the military, if we need it." 🔥 pic.twitter.com/25fB6IopLu
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 12, 2025
Users across social media chimed in on the idea of National Guard troops being deployed to crime-ridden Memphis.
"Make Memphis Great Again!" one X user wrote.
Another X user wrote, "So Memphis will be a good vacation spot in a few months."
It'll be interesting to see if Trump gets similar results in Memphis as he did in the nation's capital.
As President Donald Trump directs U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies to continue the crackdown on illegal immigrants and efforts to have the deported, ICE lodged a detainer on an especially dangerous one.
According to Fox News, the federal agency reported Friday that it has filed paperwork for a federal arrest detainer and deportation of an illegal alien who allegedly used a machete to decapitate a Texas merchant.
Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, an illegal immigrant from Cuba, was arrested in Dallas last week and was charged with homocide after a gruesome alleged murder involving a Texas merchant.
The murder, which involved the decapitation of the merchant, reportedly happened in front of his family.
It's understandable why ICE would want to collar him and send him packing, as he's one of the ones President Donald Trump has warned Americans about for years now. The most nasty and the most dangerous type.
Not only did he allegedly decapitate the merchant after the argument in front of the man's family, he then reportedly proceeded to kick the victim's head around "like a soccer ball."
Like other illegals that ICE is attempting to boot out of the country, Cobos-Martinez has a lengthy rap sheet and is quite clearly a danger to society. Yet, President Biden's administration kept him here.
Fox News noted:
He has a prior final order of removal to Cuba and was most recently held in ICE Dallas custody before being released on an order of supervision on January 13, 2025, during the Biden administration, as noted in the release.
At one point, even his home country of Cuba refused to have him back due to his criminal history, which is really saying something.
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement regarding his arrest and hopeful deportation.
McLaughlin held nothing back in describing the monster that Cobos-Martinez is.
"This vile monster beheaded this man in front of his wife and child and proceeded to kick the victims’ head on the ground," the statement read.
It added, "This gruesome, savage slaying of a victim at a motel by Yordanis Cobos-Martinez was completely preventable if this criminal illegal alien was not released into our country by the Biden administration since Cuba would not take him back.
One would hope that there wouldn't be any pushback from the courts on this particular case. It's clear that this kind of trash needs to be taken out of the country and locked away.