Secret Service Employee Placed on Leave Over Controversial Post Following Charlie Kirk’s Death
A Secret Service employee has been put on administrative leave after sharing a provocative social media post regarding the recent assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk. The post criticized those expressing grief over his death.
Anthony Pough, an employee of the agency responsible for protection, circulated a video where Kirk suggested that prominent figures, including Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and former Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), were “affirmative action picks” because they lacked the capability to succeed independently.
“If you are mourning this guy, delete me. He spread hatred and racism during his show,” Pough stated in a Facebook post on Thursday, as first noted by a political outlet.
He further emphasized, “We should instead be mourning the innocent children who were harmed in Colorado,” referencing a shooting incident at Evergreen High School caused by a “radicalized” 16-year-old, which resulted in serious injuries to two students.
Pough added, “Ultimately, you are accountable to GOD and manifest what you speak. You cannot escape karma, it persists.”
The online statement remained visible for several hours before it was reported, igniting discontent among some of his colleagues in the agency.
A spokesperson for the Secret Service confirmed, “We do not condone any actions that breach our code of conduct. We’re aware of the employee’s social media remarks today, and we are investigating the situation.”
Kirk was fatally wounded during a question-and-answer segment at his American Comeback Tour event at Utah Valley University, just moments before the incident transpired.
Following his transport to a medical facility, Kirk was declared dead. He leaves behind his wife, Erika, and their two young children.
The assassination elicited expressions of sorrow from both conservative and liberal circles nationwide, with President Trump announcing plans on Thursday to award Kirk a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
Earlier this year, Pough had expressed pride in the agency’s work. He has also been vocal in criticizing the Trump administration, at one point mocking the rivalry between Trump and former Department of Government Efficiency director Elon Musk.
In a post from March, he stated: “For the past decade, talk of divisiveness meant you were referring to race; saying ‘woke’ sounded less discriminatory.” He continued, “Now, racism is operative, aligned with your agenda. It’s Anti-Woke and Anti DEI [diversity, equity, and inclusion].”
The Secret Service has faced increased scrutiny over a string of security lapses, including a recent incident where an agent was suspended after a Glock was smuggled into Trump National Golf Club, Washington D.C.
Last year, the agency attracted criticism due to two significant assassination attempts against Trump, including a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a bullet narrowly missed fatally injuring him.
Pough is not the only individual voicing criticisms of Kirk following the assassination by an unidentified sniper.
Former MSNBC contributor Mathew Dowd remarked shortly after Kirk’s death that the conservative was a polarizing individual who often incited “hate speech towards specific groups.”
“Hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions. I believe we are in that environment now,” he stated.
Dowd was subsequently terminated by MSNBC, where he had worked as a strategist for the Bush-Cheney campaign in 2004.
Passionate journalist and digital news editor with a keen eye for global affairs and emerging trends. As the founder and lead writer of RSS News US, he is dedicated to delivering accurate, insightful, and engaging content to readers seeking trustworthy news in a fast-paced world.
