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Despite defense attorneys for Tyler Robinson asking for prosecutors from the Utah County Attorney’s Office to be removed from his case, a judge on Tuesday ruled that they will remain.
Robinson is accused of killing Turning Point USA President Charlie Kirk last September during a TPUSA event at Utah Valley University. Prosecutors have signaled that they will seek the death penalty against Robinson.
“The court has taken the necessary time to carefully review the motions submitted, considered the evidence presented, and the arguments made by counsel,” said Utah Judge Tony Graf during the televised hearing.
He continued, “…Before the court is defendant’s motion to disqualify Utah County Attorney’s Office. Defendant argues that high-level prosecutor assigned to this case has a concurrent conflict of interest, and because no efforts were made to screen him, the entire office should be disqualified.”
According to CNN, Robinson’s defense attorneys had asked that prosecutors from the attorney’s office be recused because the lead prosecutor, Chad Grunander, allegedly had a child on campus at Utah Valley University, where Charlie Kirk’s assassination took place. However, the outlet reported that Grunander’s 18-year-old child did not witness the assassination of Kirk on September 12, 2025.
“Because defendant has not established a factual basis for a finding of conflict of interest or an objective appearance of impropriety rising to a constitutional concern, his motion is respectfully denied,” Judge Graf noted.
As reported by RSBN, Robinson has been charged with fatally shooting Charlie Kirk. He has not yet entered a plea at this time. Erika Kirk, the surviving widow of Charlie Kirk, last month called for a speedy trial and resolution in the Robinson case, invoking Utah law requesting quicker court processes.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Judge Graf noted, “I recognize that you all have challenging schedules, but this case must have priority as this court is trying to balance the constitutional rights of all parties in being timely in its process, so I ask you, respectfully, to do your best to ensure that we can align to a schedule that allows us to move forward in a proper manner while respecting the constitutional rights of all parties.”