Secret Service Employee Suspended After Celebrating Charlie Kirk’s Assassination
In a swift and decisive response to a deeply troubling incident, the U.S. Secret Service placed an employee on administrative leave following his celebratory social media post about the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. The agency confirmed to Fox News Digital that Anthony Pough’s actions prompted an immediate investigation, with a spokesperson emphasizing, “The U.S. Secret Service will not tolerate behavior that violates our code of conduct.” This incident has raised serious concerns about professionalism and political neutrality within an organization tasked with protecting political figures across the ideological spectrum.
The inflammatory Facebook post in question revealed troubling sentiments from Pough, who was reportedly in “Phase 2” of his career with the Secret Service but had not yet been assigned to regularly protect former President Donald Trump. In his post, Pough wrote, “If you are Mourning [sic] this guy… delete me. He spewed hate and racism on his show,” and suggested that people should instead focus on “mourning the innocent children killed in Colorado,” referencing a recent school shooting at Evergreen High School. Perhaps most disturbing was Pough’s invocation of “karma” as explanation for Kirk’s death, writing, “At the end of the day, you answer to GOD and speak things into existence. You can only circumvent karma, she doesnt [sic] leave.” The callous nature of these comments, coming from someone in a position of public trust, has sparked widespread outrage.
The tragic event that Pough was commenting on occurred on Wednesday afternoon at Utah Valley University, where Kirk was attending a Turning Point USA event. In a shocking moment that has reverberated throughout the political landscape, a single shot struck Kirk in the neck. Despite being quickly transported to a local hospital, the conservative commentator was pronounced dead just hours later. Kirk, who had built a significant following as a conservative activist and media figure, leaves behind his wife Erika and their two young children, aged just 1 and 3 years old. The couple had married in 2021, and now his family faces the devastating reality of life without their husband and father, victims of a senseless act of political violence.
In a show of respect that transcended political divisions, Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance accompanied Kirk’s casket back to his home in Arizona on Thursday, using Air Force Two for the solemn journey. This gesture highlighted how, despite the intense polarization in American politics, there remains a fundamental understanding that political violence threatens the foundations of democratic discourse. The assassination has prompted reflection across the political spectrum about the dangers of rhetoric that dehumanizes political opponents and the importance of maintaining civil disagreement without descending into demonization or calls for harm.
The investigation into Kirk’s assassination moved quickly, with former President Trump announcing on Friday morning during an appearance on “Fox & Friends” that police had apprehended a suspect. That suspect was later identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. Utah Governor Spencer Cox provided details on the arrest, explaining, “We got him on the evening of Sept. 11. A family member of Tyler Robinson reached out to a family friend who contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office with information that Robinson had confessed to them or implied that he had committed the incident.” This development brings some measure of justice to a situation that has shocked Americans across the political spectrum, though it cannot undo the tragedy that has befallen Kirk’s family and supporters.
The juxtaposition of Pough’s celebration of Kirk’s death against his professional role in an agency dedicated to protecting political figures highlights a disturbing contradiction. The Secret Service’s three-phase career structure places agents like Pough in positions of increasing responsibility, with Phase 2 specifically focused on protective assignments. The revelation that someone tasked with potentially protecting political figures would celebrate the assassination of a prominent conservative voice raises profound questions about vetting procedures and the maintenance of professional neutrality within security services. As the investigation into Pough’s conduct proceeds, many Americans will be watching closely to see how the agency addresses this breach of trust and what steps will be taken to ensure that those charged with protecting political figures—regardless of ideology—maintain the highest standards of professional conduct and impartiality.
