Andrew Kolvet, a spokesman for Turning Point USA (TPUSA), publicly disclosed on Monday, March 23, 2026, that he provided private text messages belonging to the organization's slain founder, Charlie Kirk, to Joe Kent, a former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center. These messages later became public through podcaster Candace Owens in October 2025, sparking an internal controversy regarding information security and trust within conservative political circles.
The revelation came during an appearance on "The Charlie Kirk Show," where Kolvet recounted the timeline of events following Kirk's assassination on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University. Kirk's death, for which 22-year-old Tyler Robinson faces aggravated murder charges, prompted Kolvet to explore every potential lead, leading him to share the sensitive communications with Kent. Prosecutors have indicated their intent to seek the death penalty against Robinson.
Kolvet explained his rationale for sharing the group chat contents with Kent, stating, "So yes, in a spirit of looking at every lead, turning over every stone, we wanted everybody that needed to know to know anything that we knew." He emphasized a commitment to responsible conduct, adding, "We don’t throw around accusations recklessly here … We think that’s keeping in the spirit of Charlie’s spirit and the way we choose to do things is we try and be responsible."
Despite sharing the information, Kolvet stated that he declined Kent's subsequent suggestion to make the texts publicly available, citing their private nature and potential harm to others in the group chat. However, "another week or two" after Kolvet's refusal, the messages were indeed made public. Kolvet stopped short of directly accusing Kent of the leak, acknowledging the possibility that "somebody on his team" or another individual might have been responsible. "Can I 100% categorically say that he leaked them? No. But those are the facts. Maybe somebody on his team. Maybe they got passed around. Maybe somebody else leaked them. But those are the facts of the matter, and that’s what I know," Kolvet stated. He characterized the public release of the private communications as "an egregious breach."
The leaked messages, as published by Candace Owens in October 2025, contained several notable exchanges from Kirk. One message reportedly read, "Just lost another huge Jewish donor. $2 million a year because we won’t cancel Tucker[.]" Other texts referenced Daily Caller News Foundation co-founder Tucker Carlson and Owens herself, with Kirk writing, "I’m thinking about inviting Candace." Kirk also reportedly expressed frustration regarding donor relations, stating, "Jewish donors play into all the stereotypes. I cannot and will not be bullied like this," and concluding that the situation left him "no choice but to leave the pro Israel cause."
Blake Neff, a producer for "The Charlie Kirk Show," noted during the broadcast that the public release of these private texts inadvertently fueled a conspiracy theory suggesting Israeli or Jewish involvement in Kirk's murder. Both Kolvet and Neff explicitly stated their disbelief in this theory, working to distance TPUSA from such speculative claims.
Adding another layer to the controversy, Neff highlighted that Joe Kent has previously faced accusations of leaking classified information to unauthorized individuals. Reports indicate that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) opened an investigation into Kent concerning these alleged leaks. Kent addressed the allegations on "The Megyn Kelly Show" on Friday, denying any wrongdoing. "As for the leak allegations, I’m not concerned because I know I did nothing wrong," Kent stated. He acknowledged concerns about government scrutiny, adding, "Of course, I am concerned because we’ve all seen the FBI and the full way the government comes down on individuals who speak out. So that has been a little concerning, but I know the truth and the facts are on my side."
The incident underscores the intricate challenges of information control, particularly in the aftermath of a high-profile tragedy, and raises questions about accountability when sensitive communications are disseminated beyond their intended audience. The ongoing debate highlights the tension between the need for transparency in investigations and the imperative to protect private communications, especially within politically charged environments.
