Former counterterrorism chief Joe Kent says he was prevented from continuing an investigation into the killing of Charlie Kirk.
The right-wing political social media figure was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, during an event at Utah Valley University.
Kent, who had served as Donald Trump’s counterterrorism chief, announced on March 17 that he was resigning, saying he ‘cannot in good conscience’ supper the US conflict with Iran.
The day after stepping down, Kent appeared on The Tucker Carlson Show and alleged that efforts to examine the circumstances surrounding Kirk’s death were halted.
“But the investigation that I was a part of, the National Counterrorism Center was a part of, we were stopped from continuing to investigate,” he claimed.
He added that, in his view, the case still leaves significant issues unresolved, describing the aftermath as containing ‘unanswered questions’.
Kent also recounted what he said was his last interaction with Kirk, which he placed in the West Wing of the White House shortly before the shooting.
“And he said, ‘Joe, stop us from getting into a war with Iran’ very loudly”, Kent claimed. “And he walked off and he went, I believe, into the Oval.”
He argued that the restrictions around the inquiry were troubling given what he described as Kirk’s public positions at the time.
“So when one of President Trump’s closest advisors, who is vocally advocating for us to not go to war with Iran and for us to rethink, at least, our relationship with the Israelis, and then he’s suddenly publicly assassinated and we’re not allowed to ask any questions about that,” he continued. “It’s a data point.”
According to The Washington Post, members of Trump’s team were notified about Kent’s resignation before he announced it publicly.
Authorities said a suspect was taken into custody two days after Kirk was killed. Police announced the arrest of Tyler Robinson in connection with the shooting.
Robinson, 22, was charged with seven offences, including aggravated murder and obstruction of justice.
Prosecutors say the complete list of charges includes aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering, and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray has previously stated that the prosecution intends to pursue the death penalty.
Gray said previously: “I do not take this decision lightly.”
Robinson appeared in court on January 16, when his defense team argued that the prosecution should be removed due to an alleged conflict of interest.
CNN reports the concern stems from a claim that one deputy prosecutor’s 18-year-old child was present at the event where Kirk was shot.