Judge Tony Graf, the judge overseeing the case against Tyler Robinson, the alleged assassin of Charlie Kirk, ruled that county prosecutors can remain on the case.
Robinson’s defense attorneys asked the judge to disqualify a member of the prosecution team, claiming there was a conflict of interest over a deputy county attorney’s child attending the campus event during Kirk’s assassination. According to prosecutors, the 18-year-old never saw the shooting or the shooter and was blocked by buildings.
The filing showcased text messages, which prosecutors argued showed confusion rather than involvement. The student first texted, “SOMEONE GOT SHOT,” followed by, “I’m okay, everyone is going inside.” Later messages read, “CHARLIE GOT SHOT.”
Graf denied the attorneys’ request to disqualify the member. “Before the court is defendant’s motion to disqualify Utah County Attorney’s Office. Defendant argues that high-level prosecutor assigned to this case has a concurrent conflict of interest, and because no efforts were made to screen him, the entire office should be disqualified. Because defendant has not established a factual basis for a finding of conflict of interest or an objective appearance of impropriety rising to a constitutional concern,” he said. “His motion is respectfully denied.”
In a recent filing in the case, Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, called for the trial to the open to the media in a move for transparency.
“As this Court is aware, this matter has received significant public attention,” the filing, obtained by Fox News, read. “This public attention cannot be ignored. And although it is critical that this Court balance the defendant’s right to a fair trial with the public’s First Amendment right of access to judicial proceedings, any request, by either party, to essentially close these court proceedings from the public eye should be denied.”
