An employee of the Secret Service has been placed on leave due to inflammatory social media posts he made after the tragic assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk on Wednesday.
Anthony Pough, who works for the Conservation Agency, shared a video of Kirk suggesting that Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was “a positive choice” because he deemed her “not smart enough to reach for himself.”
In a Facebook post on Thursday, Pough wrote, “If you’re in mourning—please delete me. He spewed hatred and racism on his show.” This post was noted to have garnered attention quickly, as it was brought to light by RealClearPolitics.
Pough also mentioned the recent shooting at Evergreen High School in Colorado, which involved serious injuries to two students. He remarked, “We should especially lament the innocent children killed in Colorado.”
He added a somewhat philosophical note: “At the end of the day, you answer God and speak to existence. You can avoid karma, but she will not.” He concluded with, “I’m leaving.”
His remarks caused a stir among his colleagues, and they remained online for several hours before being reported.
A spokesperson for the Secret Service stated, “The Secret Service in the United States does not tolerate any behavior that violates our Code of Conduct. We are aware of employee social media posts starting today, and individuals are placed on administrative leave when investigating this issue.”
Kirk was fatally shot in the neck during an event at Utah Valley University, where he was hosting a Q&A session.
The founder of Turning Point USA was declared dead after being transported to a hospital. He left behind his wife, Erica, and two young children.
The assassination drew reactions from both sides of the political spectrum, with President Trump announcing intentions to honor Kirk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States.
Pough had previously expressed pride in his work with the Secret Service and had posted comments about political situations and controversies, including a feuding remark relating to Trump and Elon Musk.
His controversial viewpoints have sparked conversations around the current sociopolitical climate, with former MSNBC contributor Matthew Dowd noting that “hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which lead to hateful behavior.” Dowd later lost his position at MSNBC following these comments.
Meanwhile, the Secret Service continues to face intense scrutiny over a series of recent security lapses, including an incident at Trump National Golf Club where a club member brought a firearm.
