The Secret Service has put an employee on administrative leave after they made a social media post that appeared to celebrate the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA. A spokesman stated that they do not condone any behavior that breaches their Code of Conduct and that an investigation is underway.
The employee, Anthony Pough, posted his controversial thoughts on Facebook, saying, “If you’re in mourning… please delete me. He spewed hatred and racism on the show.” This comment drew attention, and Real Clear Politics initially reported on it.
Pough described Kirk’s assassination as “karma” in an inflammatory Facebook update. He also mentioned a recent tragic school shooting in Colorado, stressing the innocence of the victims.
According to reports, Pough is in the second phase of his career at the Secret Service, a phase that focuses on allocation for protection duties. However, details about his role in protecting prominent figures, like former President Donald Trump, remain uncertain.
Kirk, who was at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University, was taken to a local hospital after the shooting but was declared dead later that evening. He is survived by his wife, Erica, and their two young children, aged 1 and 3. Kirk and Erica had only married in 2021.
On Friday, following the incident, Trump announced the apprehension of a suspect named Tyler Robinson, 22. Utah’s governor confirmed the community’s efforts in responding to this tragic event, noting that Robinson’s family contacted authorities with information regarding his confession about the incident.
