Document text
NEWS REPORT by Forbes — "Charlie Kirk's former security guard sues Candace Owens for spreading conspiracies he was involved in assassination" (published 2026-05-01).
This is journalism ABOUT State of Utah v. Tyler James Robinson — NOT the court record. It is indexed for comparison against the primary transcripts/filings. Full article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2026/05/01/charlie-kirks-former-security-guard-sues-candace-owens-for-spreading-conspiracies-he-was-involved-in-assassination/
The former security chief to conservative activist Charlie Kirk filed a lawsuit against podcast host Candace Owens in federal court, accusing her of defaming him by allegedly spreading conspiracy theories that he was involved in Kirk's assassination, which he says is a "completely and obviously fabricated story." Brian Harpole, who was Kirk's security chief and was present when Kirk was shot and killed at a Utah college campus in September, filed a lawsuit in Tennessee federal court on Thursday, accusing Owens of multiple counts of defamation. Harpole said Owens had first accused Harpole of failing to implement proper security protocol on the day of Kirk's death on episodes of her podcast, before spreading false theories that Harpole was directly involved in Kirk's killing. Harpole cited interviews Owens conducted with Mitch Snow (also a co-defendant), who says he is a former military official and claimed Harpole was present at an alleged classified meeting with senior government officials held at the Fort Huachuca army installation one day before Kirk's death, suggesting the meeting was held to coordinate his assassination. Owens claimed Snow's account was "one-hundred percent honest" and expected it would lead to a "full confession from the government" about its "involvement in Charlie Kirk's assassination." Harpole denied he was at any such meeting, claiming travel records show he was in Dallas, Texas at the time, and said Owens' purported evidence does not prove any government conspiracy to kill Kirk, "let alone Harpole's presence at Fort Huachuca or involvement in such a conspiracy." Harpole's lawsuit seeks $75,000 in damages, but he says a "reasonable award is well into the millions of dollars," saying he has been harassed by thousands of people who falsely accused him of conspiring to kill Kirk. Owens disputed his claims on her podcast and suggested the lawsuit was "one big PR move." Harpole's suit says Owens has garnered a reputation for spreading conspiracy theories, citing her false claims that French first lady Brigitte Macron is a man. Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University in September. Owens has since spread various conspiracy theories about his assassination, suggesting there isn't sufficient evidence against accused shooter Tyler Robinson, and that Israel may have had something to do with Kirk's killing, which Israeli officials have denied. Owens has sparred with Kirk's wife, Erika Kirk; in a video Erika Kirk lamented Owens is "claiming I murdered my husband," though Owens claimed she never said that.