In a shocking display of vile partisanship and poor judgement, a U.S. Secret Service employee found himself sidelined for a social media rant that cheered the tragic killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Fox News reported that Anthony Pough, the agent in question, posted on Facebook, blaming karma for Kirk's death while accusing him of promoting racism, prompting swift action from his agency and criticism from a Republican senator.
Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, when a gunshot struck him in the neck. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries just hours later.
Kirk left behind his wife, Erika, whom he married in 2021, and their two young children, ages 1 and 3. Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance escorted Kirk's casket back to his home in Arizona aboard Air Force Two the following day.
Police captured the suspected shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, on the evening of Sept. 11, 2025.
A family member of Robinson contacted a friend who then alerted the Washington County Sheriff's Office, reporting that Robinson had confessed or hinted at his involvement. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox announced the arrest the next morning, stating, "We got him on the evening of Sept. 11."
Cox further explained, "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."
Such family cooperation shows how community ties can aid justice, even in divisive times. Yet it underscores the need for vigilance against those who act on extreme impulses.
President Donald Trump shared news of the apprehension during a Fox & Friends appearance that Friday morning.
Memorials for Kirk sprang up nationwide and even in Berlin, with Arizonans gathering outside Turning Point USA headquarters in Phoenix on Sept. 12, 2025, to honor his memory.
Amid this mourning, Real Clear Politics highlighted Pough's Facebook post on Thursday, where he wrote, "If you are Mourning [sic] this guy, delete me. He spewed hate and racism on his show."
Pough continued, "Especially when we should be mourning the innocent children killed in Colorado," referencing a school shooting that injured two students the day before Kirk's death.
While empathy for child victims is universal, linking it to celebrating a political figure's assassination reveals a troubling bias that prioritizes ideology over basic decency.
He added, "At the end of the day, you answer to GOD and speak things into existence. You can only circumvent karma, she doesnt [sic] leave." This karma talk might sound philosophical, but it conveniently ignores the real human cost of violence against those with differing views.
Pough, in Phase 2 of his Secret Service career—which involves protective assignments—had not been regularly assigned to guard President Trump.
The agency's phases include Phase 3 for post-protective or headquarters roles, but Pough's status didn't shield him from scrutiny.
A Secret Service spokesperson responded firmly: "The U.S. Secret Service will not tolerate behavior that violates our code of conduct. This employee was immediately put on administrative leave, and an investigation has begun."
That quick suspension highlights how even federal protectors must uphold standards, especially when public trust is at stake in a polarized era.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican, demanded Pough's firing in a letter to Secret Service Director Sean Curran that same Thursday.
She posted on X: "As our nation mourns the devastating loss of Charlie Kirk, a rogue @SecretService agent posted on Facebook suggesting that he deserved to be murdered. I am calling for this agent’s immediate termination."
Blackburn added, "It's time to root out the rot in the Secret Service," a pointed reminder that accountability shouldn't wait for partisan convenience. Her call resonates with those tired of excuses for unprofessional conduct in government ranks.
Fox News Digital confirmed the leave, noting Pough couldn't be reached for comment.
This incident, unfolding just as the nation reflected on 9/11 victims—with agents like those in New York preparing for Trump's visit—serves as a stark contrast to the unity such remembrances demand.
While progressives might downplay such posts as free speech, celebrating assassinations erodes the civil discourse conservatives like Kirk championed, however imperfectly.
