House Republicans are demanding a formal congressional investigation into what they describe as “radical left” networks following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, reports said on Saturday.
On Sept. 11, the day after Kirk was shot while speaking on his “American Comeback Tour,” Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson urging the creation of a select committee to investigate organized left-wing violence.
The letter was co-signed by 22 other Republican lawmakers, Newsmax reported.
“We must take every step to follow the money and uncover the force behind the NGOs, donors, media, public officials, and all entities driving this coordinated attack,” Roy wrote, citing the 2024 assassination attempt on President Donald Trump and the 2017 congressional baseball shooting as part of a broader pattern of violence against conservatives.
If formed, the committee would have subpoena power and focus on organizations such as Antifa and donors like George Soros, who has long been a target of Republican criticism.
“Political violence of any kind is unacceptable, no matter who commits it,” said Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C. “But let’s not pretend this is an even playing field. In recent years, we’ve seen organized and well-funded efforts from the radical left to intimidate, disrupt, silence, and even justify violence against Americans they don’t agree with.”
Kirk, 31, was shot in the neck on Wednesday. Police identified the suspect as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson of Washington County, Utah. His death shocked Washington and drew bipartisan condemnation. A group of Democrats issued a joint statement Friday: “We may have our differences, but we are unified in our condemnation of these attacks.”
Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA, a conservative youth organization that became a major force in Republican campus activism. His “American Comeback Tour” was designed to mobilize young voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Republicans say Kirk’s assassination fits a larger trend they attribute to Democratic rhetoric and lenient crime policies. Earlier this month, GOP lawmakers linked the fatal subway stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska to what they called “soft on crime” approaches after it was revealed the accused assailant had multiple prior arrests.
Roy framed Kirk’s killing as a pivotal moment. “We can no longer pretend to be bound together by shared ideals when a well-funded, vitriolic cadre of our fellow Americans and foreign interests are at war with the very values of faith in God, fidelity to our Constitution, and respect for the principles of liberty and Western civilization that define us as Americans — including, notably, the free speech practiced and exemplified by Charlie Kirk,” he wrote.
Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of assassinating Kirk on Wednesday, has “lawyered up” and is no longer talking with investigators, according to a new report.
A source familiar with the matter told CNN that Robinson had initially been speaking with law enforcement but has since gone silent, Newsmax reported.
He is expected to be charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, and obstruction of justice, according to a probable-cause affidavit obtained by NBC News.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said during a press conference that officials have three days to formally charge Robinson and that authorities believe he acted alone.
Cox also said Friday that Robinson made disparaging comments about Kirk during a family dinner days before the shooting.
“Investigators interviewed a family member of Robinson who stated that Robinson had become more political in recent years,” Cox said.
“The family member referenced a recent incident in which Robinson came to dinner … and in the conversation with another family member, Robinson mentioned Charlie Kirk was coming to [Utah Valley University],” the GOP governor continued.
“They talked about why they didn’t like him and the viewpoints that he had. The family member also stated Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate.”