The Megyn Kelly Show - Alleged Kirk Assassin Charged With Seven Counts, Patel vs. Dems in Combative Hearing： AM Update 9⧸17

00:00:00.000 Good morning, everyone. I'm Megan Kelly. It's Wednesday, September 17th, 2025, and this is

00:00:08.660 your AM Update. The defendant is believed to have targeted Charlie Kirk based on Charlie Kirk's

00:00:15.020 political expression. Tyler Robinson formally charged with seven counts, including aggravated

00:00:21.300 murder for the assassination of Charlie Kirk. A disgusting twist, the elderly man arrested in

00:00:27.940 the moment following Charlie's murder, now under investigation for child sex abuse material. 1.00

00:00:34.240 You are a disgrace to this institution and an utter coward. You are a political buffoon at best. 1.00

00:00:40.960 And FBI Director Cash Patel takes on Democrats in a fiery hearing on the Hill. All that and more 0.99

00:00:46.980 coming up in just a moment on your AM Update. As President Trump is settling into his new

00:00:54.980 administration, one of the top Democrats in Congress aiming to undermine the Trump agenda

00:00:59.080 is Democrat Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois. And according to our sponsor, the Electronic Payments

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00:01:11.240 Americans have thousands of choices in credit cards, but they say Senator Durbin's plan will result in

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00:01:21.700 You can learn more for yourself at GuardYourCard.com. And you could consider telling your senators to

00:01:28.380 stop Dick Durbin's government takeover of your credit card before it's too late.

00:01:36.000 Tyler Robinson formally charged yesterday with the murder of Charlie Kirk, speaking only once in the

00:01:42.460 short meeting, stating his name to presiding district judge Tony Graff.

00:01:47.020 Could you state your name?

00:01:48.600 Tyler James Robinson.

00:01:49.800 The 22-year-old suspect appearing virtually via video, arms bare, wearing what appears to be

00:01:56.160 an anti-suicide smock commonly worn by high-risk inmates. The defendant did not enter a plea,

00:02:03.920 Judge Graff approving a court-appointed lawyer for Robinson, saying Robinson was indigent.

00:02:10.000 Prior to the hearing, Utah County DA Jeffrey Gray announcing seven charges against Robinson,

00:02:15.160 one count of aggravated murder for knowingly causing the death of Kirk, under circumstances

00:02:21.400 that created great risk to others. This is a capital offense, and prosecutors do intend to seek the

00:02:27.280 death penalty. At the time of his death, Charlie was surrounded by about 2,000 onlookers, several staff

00:02:33.620 and security members sitting within feet of him. Count two, felony discharge of a firearm, causing serious

00:02:39.940 bodily injury. At this point, D.A. Gray confirming this was a political assassination.

00:02:46.300 The state is further alleging aggravating factors on counts one and two because the defendant is

00:02:53.600 believed to have targeted Charlie Kirk based on Charlie Kirk's political expression and did so

00:03:00.700 knowing that children were present and would witness the homicide.

00:03:05.180 More on Robinson's motivations in just a minute.

00:03:09.060 Counts three and four, obstruction of justice, second-degree felonies, one charge relating to

00:03:14.260 dishing the rifle, another for getting rid of the outfit he allegedly wore during the shooting.

00:03:19.100 Counts five and six, witness tampering, third-degree felonies, in reference to a conversation Robinson had

00:03:25.360 with his roommate and romantic partner after the shooting. Counts seven, commission of a violent

00:03:30.940 offense in the presence of a child, a class A misdemeanor, the most serious level misdemeanor

00:03:36.400 offense. D.A. Gray revealing more information about Robinson's actions in the hours after the shooting

00:03:42.780 prior to turning himself over to police. Robinson's roommate, a transgender male pretending to be a

00:03:50.000 female, turning over messages to authorities. D.A. Gray yesterday reading a text exchange,

00:03:55.340 between Robinson and his roommate, confirmed by Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino on The Megan

00:04:01.020 Kelly Show, to be named Lance Twiggs. On September 10, 2025, the roommate received a text message from

00:04:10.040 Robinson which said, drop what you're doing, look under my keyboard. The roommate looked under the

00:04:17.160 keyboard and found a note that stated, quote, I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm

00:04:24.380 going to take it. Police found a photograph of this note. The following text exchange then took place.

00:04:32.100 After reading the note, the roommate responded, what? You're joking, right? Robinson, I am still okay,

00:04:40.480 my love, but am stuck in Orem for a little while longer yet. Shouldn't be long until I can come home,

00:04:47.640 but I gotta grab my rifle still. To be honest, I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age.

00:04:55.360 I am sorry to involve you. Roommate, you weren't the one who did it, right? Robinson, I am, I am, I'm sorry.

00:05:04.620 Twiggs asking, why? Robinson replying, quote, I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can't be negotiated out.

00:05:13.420 The accused going on to say he had been planning the attack for just over a week. Later in the

00:05:19.520 conversation, Robinson details plans to retrieve the rifle, which apparently once belonged to his

00:05:24.720 grandfather and was gifted to Robinson, telling Twiggs a patrol car was still parked near the wooded

00:05:30.760 area where the gun was ditched. D.A. Gray reading more of the conversation. Remember how he was engraving

00:05:37.780 bullets? The effing messages are mostly a big meme. If I see Notice Bulge, UWU on Fox News,

00:05:49.020 I might have a stroke, all right. I'm going to have to leave it. That really effing sucks. Judging from

00:05:55.960 today, I'd say grandpa's gun does just fine. Robinson then messaging his roommate about incoming

00:06:02.560 questions from his parents and instructing his roommate to help cover Robinson's tracks.

00:06:08.480 Robinson again, delete this exchange. Again, Robinson, my dad wants photos of the rifle. He

00:06:14.760 says grandpa wants to know who has what. The feds released a photo of the rifle and it is very unique.

00:06:22.380 He's calling me, RN, not answering. Robinson, since Trump got into office, my dad has been pretty

00:06:30.580 diehard MAGA. Robinson, I'm going to turn myself in willingly. One of my neighbors here is a deputy

00:06:38.320 for the sheriff. Again, you are all I worry about, love. That came from Robinson. Roommate,

00:06:45.060 I'm much more worried about you. Robinson, don't talk to the media, please. Don't take any interviews

00:06:51.520 or make any comments. If any police ask you questions, ask for a lawyer and stay silent.

00:07:00.580 DA Gray elaborating more on the shooter's evolving political views over the last few years. According

00:07:06.700 to his mother, the defendant started leaning more toward the left, telling the DA he had become more

00:07:11.920 pro-gay and trans rights oriented. Robinson's family telling authorities he had previously accused

00:07:18.700 Charlie of spreading hate, saying Utah Valley University was a stupid venue for an event. 0.97

00:07:25.400 According to DA Gray, Robinson's parents confronting their son about his possible role in the shooting 1.00

00:07:31.060 after seeing the photos released by the FBI. His parents reporting to law enforcement that

00:07:37.200 Robinson said he did it because there is too much evil in the world and Charlie Kirk spreads too much

00:07:43.600 hate. Robinson's next hearing, also virtual, set for 10 a.m. local time on September 29th,

00:07:50.520 he will remain in custody without bail. The arrest of the first man taken into custody

00:07:58.080 immediately following Charlie Kirk's assassination taking a disturbing twist,

00:08:03.200 leading to a child sexual abuse material investigation. That person, now identified as

00:08:08.520 71-year-old George Zinn, captured on video just moments after the shooting being placed under arrest

00:08:14.980 by Utah Valley University Police. According to a Utah County Sheriff's Office press release shared

00:08:21.460 online by investigative journalist Andy Ngo, quote, while people were leaving the scene,

00:08:27.200 Zinn was seen yelling that he had shot Charlie Kirk. At the UVU Police Department, Zinn refused to speak

00:08:33.920 to investigators. He was then transferred to a local hospital amid an unspecified medical episode.

00:08:39.680 According to police documents obtained by Fox 13, Zinn told police that he, quote,

00:08:45.780 wanted to be a martyr for the person who was shot. At the hospital, Zinn reportedly admitting to an FBI

00:08:52.520 agent and a Utah State Bureau of Investigation agent he was not the shooter, but claimed he was in order

00:08:59.140 to allow the actual suspect time to flee. Investigators asked to see his phone. Zinn agreed, telling the

00:09:06.420 agents they might find child sexual abuse images on his phone. Officials then turning the matter over

00:09:11.960 to the Utah County Special Victims Unit. Zinn was released from the hospital on Monday, law enforcement

00:09:17.540 then booking him in the Utah County Jail on obstruction charges. That same day, the SVU obtaining a search

00:09:24.000 warrant for Zinn's phone, discovering more than 20 images of children ranging from 5 to 12 years old.

00:09:31.200 According to the Sheriff's Department, there were several graphic text messaging threads where Zinn

00:09:35.780 shared the images with others. He remains in the Utah County Jail on felony obstruction charges

00:09:41.420 and four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Investigators do not believe Zinn coordinated with

00:09:48.280 the shooter. Zinn is well known in the Utah political scene. Local outlet KSL reporting Zinn is a regular

00:09:54.780 with law enforcement, arrested and charged many times over 30 years. In 2013, authorities charging Zinn with a

00:10:01.620 felony for making a threat of terrorism, asking Salt Lake City Marathon organizers in an email, quote,

00:10:08.160 I was wondering if you needed anybody to help place bombs near the finish line on Saturday.

00:10:13.280 KSL reporting Zinn later pleaded guilty to a lesser misdemeanor charge.

00:10:19.240 Coming up, Capitol Hill erupts as FBI Director Cash Patel goes toe-to-toe with Democrats in a contentious

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00:11:30.440 FBI Director Cash Patel appearing before the Senate Judiciary hearing yesterday covering a wide range

00:11:36.240 of issues. Patel taking heat from both sides of the aisle in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk

00:11:41.240 assassination. In the early evening on September 10th, Patel posting on X that the subject was in

00:11:48.080 custody. Then about 90 minutes later, posting that that person had been released and the suspect was

00:11:54.280 still on the loose. Yesterday, however, Republican senators rallying around the director while Democrats

00:12:00.440 went on the attack. A sampling of that here from Vermont Senator Peter Welsh and Illinois Senator Dick

00:12:06.720 Durbin, both Democrats.

00:12:08.160 You made an announcement that the suspect was in custody. We got our man. It turned out that was

00:12:15.140 not true. And as if we have our man, that would suggest to the public that everybody can rest and

00:12:20.880 relax and not then continue to provide information to the local law enforcement and to you. So that was

00:12:26.980 a mistake.

00:12:27.680 Mr. Patel was so anxious to take credit for finding Mr. Kirk's assassin that he violated one of the basics

00:12:34.760 of effective law enforcement. At critical stages of an investigation, shut up and let the professionals

00:12:40.880 do their job.

00:12:42.500 Patel acknowledging his wording at the time could have been more precise. However, stating he does

00:12:46.720 not believe updating the public in real time was a mistake. California Democratic Senator Adam Schiff

00:12:52.660 questioning the director about Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell's transfer to a minimum security prison

00:12:58.700 following her interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Senator Schiff asking Director Patel

00:13:05.340 who was in charge of that decision. Mr. Patel responding it came from the Bureau of Prisons

00:13:10.120 setting off this exchange.

00:13:12.660 You want the American people to believe that? Do you think they're stupid? 1.00

00:13:17.820 No. I think the American people believe the truth that I'm not in the weeds on the everyday 1.00

00:13:22.120 movements of inmates. What I am doing is protecting this country, providing historic reform, and

00:13:29.340 combating the weaponization of intelligence by the likes of you. And we have countlessly

00:13:34.780 proven you to be a liar in Russiagate in January 6th. You are the biggest fraud to ever sit in 0.99

00:13:41.420 the United States Senate. You are a disgrace to this institution and an utter coward. 1.00

00:13:46.540 I'm not surprised. I'm not surprised that you continue to lie from your perch and put on a show 1.00

00:13:53.880 so you can go raise money for your charade. You are a political buffoon at best. 1.00

00:14:00.740 In 2023, then Congressman Schiff was removed from the Intelligence Committee and formally censured by 0.97

00:14:06.860 the House for misleading the public repeatedly by promoting now totally debunked claims that President

00:14:12.800 Trump colluded with Russia to win the 2016 presidential election. Schiff at the time said

00:14:18.400 he would wear that censure as a badge of honor. Elsewhere in the hearing, Director Patel questioned

00:14:23.160 about changes to the physical fitness exam all new FBI recruits are required to pass.

00:14:29.180 Beginning in November 2025, pull-ups will be a mandatory part of the evaluation for all FBI candidates.

00:14:36.360 Females will be required to complete at least one single pull-up. At a minimum, 1.00

00:14:41.520 male candidates must complete two to three. Democrat from Hawaii, Senator Mazie Hirono questioning the

00:14:48.360 fairness of this new standard. You are now requiring applicants to be able to do a certain kind of

00:14:56.680 pull-ups, which a lot of women cannot because of physiological differences. Are you requiring 0.99

00:15:04.000 these kinds of pull-ups? We are requiring a physical program at BFTC at Quantico because FBI agents

00:15:11.660 carrying guns in the field have to chase down bad guys and do really hard work. The reason I ask is

00:15:16.920 that there are concerns about whether or not being able to do these kinds of harsh pull-ups is really

00:15:22.820 required of FBI agents. Doing one pull-up is not harsh. Director Patel then noting certain medical

00:15:29.820 exemptions exist for qualifying candidates. Later, Republican Senator from Alabama, Katie Britt, 1.00

00:15:36.660 highlighting the irony in her Democrat colleague's line of questioning. Before I begin, I want to thank

00:15:42.060 Senator Hirono for what she said, acknowledging that there are physical differences between men and

00:15:47.160 women. Talking about that women wouldn't be able to do as many pull-ups, and I think that she was 1.00

00:15:52.180 making a case here that there should be different standards. There's a thing called Title IX, and this

00:15:57.500 is why we continue to say we should have biological men and men's sports and biological women and women's 0.52

00:16:03.820 sports. And so I look forward to utilizing that to talk to all of my colleagues on the other side of

00:16:09.160 the aisle. Maybe they will stand with us in helping us protect women's sports. I think she made a great

00:16:14.060 argument there for it. And that'll do it for your AM update. I'm Megan Kelly. Join me back here for

00:16:21.320 The Megan Kelly Show, live on SiriusXM Triumph Channel 111 at noon east, on youtube.com slash

00:16:27.180 Megan Kelly, and on all podcast platforms.

The Megyn Kelly Show - September 17, 2025

Alleged Kirk Assassin Charged With Seven Counts, Patel vs. Dems in Combative Hearing： AM Update 9⧸17

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