Security experts are questioning the adequacy of the threat assessment carried out ahead of Charlie Kirk's scheduled event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, where the conservative activist was assassinated in front of thousands of attendees. The scrutiny comes as federal authorities end a manhunt for the suspect linked to the attack."Universities have so many speakers that come on campus all the time. Rarely do they plan for somebody taking a longer-range shot with a rifle," explained retired Marine Lt. Col. Hal Kempfer in an interview with Fox News Digital.WHAT KIRKS ASSASSINATION MEANS FOR TRUMPS SECURITY"Sniper assassinations are far less common and even in active shooter scenarios, usually the active shooter gets into a closed space where the person is very close to where the victims are," he said, noting the immense difficulty of defending against an assailant who can strike from a concealed, elevated, or distant position."It's a lot more involved to carry out and plan for counter-sniper missions," Kempfer said, emphasizing that this level of violence was never anticipated at what was meant to be a debate-style discussion.The revelation underscores an unprecedented challenge confronting law enforcement as they work to protect political rallies on college campuses and in communities nationwide."The campus has limited security. They don't have an unlimited budget for this. They had six officers out there, which for any college campus security force, that's not an insubstantial number of officers. But they also had 3,000 people at this event," Kempfer said.COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CHARLIE KIRKWednesday's event, the first in what was supposed to be a series Turning Point USA's "American Comeback Tour," was nothing out of the ordinary. Kirk, the charismatic founder of the nations conservative youth activist group, gained recognition for his signature political debates on college campuses.In addition to local security, Kirk, who spoke outdoors, was flanked by his personal security detail.Despite those measures, former FBI special agent Stuart Kaplan said the gunman may have established his position on the rooftop ahead of time, which made it difficult for security to spot him."He was clearly undetected, there was no indication that anybody saw him on this rooftop," Kaplan told Fox News host Jesse Watters in an interview on Wednesday. "This was a very well-planned, very well-orchestrated plot that was put in motion days before," he said, adding that the suspect "had some level of sophistication to have mapped out exactly how this was going to go down."That assessment was echoed by former New York State Senator and Homeland Security advisor Michael Balboni, who said, "One shot hitting the target from 200 meters away and then escaping without anybody seeing themthose are the hallmarks of a professional.""The hardest thing to do is anticipate where the threat comes from and what threats there are. I would argue that in an open air setting like this, a rifle attack is probably the most difficult thing to stop," Balboni added in an interview on Fox News 5.Kaplan said that the gunmen also thought through how to evade law enforcement after taking the fatal shot.WHAT IS A BOLT ACTION RIFLE? WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE GUN USED TO KILL CHARLIE KIRKKempfer noted that the gun recovered by authorities on Thursday was a bolt-action rifle, a common hunting weapon valued for its durability and reliability. Unlike semi-automatic weapons, he explained, a bolt-action rifle often retains the spent cartridge in the chamber rather than ejecting it, leaving no shell casingsor "brass"for investigators to collect."That's just one of those things where you, if you've thought it through, you know that you can't leave any forensic evidence for investigators to work with," he said.During a press conference on Friday, authorities announced they had Tyler Robinson in custody after he was turned into law enforcement by his own family. Robinson was identified following a series of videos and photos released by the FBI.In a photo released on Thursday, the individual authorities were looking for was wearing a hat, sunglasses, and an American flag T-shirt with an eagle on it.

We could write about a possible government shutdown.We could detail the Senate changing procedures to confirm nominees.We could even tackle the Epstein files.But frankly, all of that would be boring.Especially when you could instead write about UFOs.THUNE'S SUITCASE NUKE - AND THE FILIBUSTER'S LATEST BLAST INJURY"There were four lights in total," recalled former Air Force intelligence officer Dylan Borland before a House panel investigating UFOs Tuesday. "I immediately could feel static electricity all over my body.""Chaos ensued over the radio as the object approached rapidly. I heard my friend screaming, It's coming right at us! It's coming right for us!" testified retired Air Force officer Jeffrey Nuccetelli."There is something out there, and we should know what it is," recounted U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Alexandro Wiggins.Shocking eyewitness testimony came this week to Congress about close encounters, especially since the testimony came from whistleblowers who served in the military."It stopped about 100 feet in front of me and approximately 100 feet above me.My telephone got extremely hot. Completely froze," said Borland about his experience.Quite the space oddities.SENATE GOP LEADER MOVES TO LOWER FILIBUSTER THRESHOLD FOR TRUMP NOMINEES THROUGH NUCLEAR OPTION"Ive not jumped to the conclusion that I believe that there are aliens coming from another planet," said Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., during the hearing. "But I'm open to that."Burlison may not be all in on little green men. But the testimony was enough to convince at least one lawmaker about UFOs who was a skeptic."Growing up, I really never believed in UFOs or any of this stuff. I always thought it was a little kooky," said Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz. "But after hearing your testimony from honorable service members and watching videos, Ive got to admit, Ive become a believer."Burlison showed an alarming intelligence video during the hearing. The Missouri Republican said it was leaked to him anonymously. He contends it reveals video of a U.S. drone firing a Hellfire missile at an unidentified object off the coast of Yemen last fall."That's a Hellfire missile that smacked into that UFO and just bounced right off, and it kept going," said UFO investigative journalist George Knapp at the hearing.Burlison provided color commentary."[The UFO] kind of pivots in some way. And then there's what appears to be debris from the missile. The missile is deflected. And then there's some pieces of debris that appear to be traveling alongside this object at speed," said Burlison.In other words, Knapp and Burlison believe the U.S. fired a missile from a drone at a UFO, the UFO miraculously parried it and then the drone somehow "captured" remains of the missile, like it was caught in a tractor beam. The UFO then zipped off without changing course and without losing speed.Not exactly the Great Space Coaster.REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: CONGRESS TARGETS COLLEGE SPORTS WILD WEST AS NIL COMPENSATION FIGHT HEATS UPHeres another issue: How in the world (or another world) is Congress ever going to get to the bottom of these mysteries if lawmakers cant even agree on the nomenclature?"UAPs or UFOs?" asked Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev.UAPs is the term that gained currency in recent years, short for "unidentified aerial phenomena."Sanitized. Anodyne. Washington-speak.But "UFOs" are code: "Unidentified flying objects."When you hear "UFOs," you can practically see people fleeing apartment buildings after the Martians landed in Grovers Mill, New Jersey, during "The War of the Worlds.""UFOs" implies conspiracy. Cover-ups. Peculiar visitors from another galaxy. All garnished with a dash of Roswell and Project Blue Book.This is why Congress, the military and the aviation industry have looked askance at UFO claims for decades."I still dont want to say UAP," said Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn. "I recently introduced the UAP Whistleblower Protection Act to help provide whistleblower protection to federal personnel for disclosing the use of federal taxpayer funds to investigate UFOs."Legislative remedies like the UAP Whistleblower Protection Act reflect a recent change in Congress.Lawmakers held the first hearing into UFOs in two generations in 2022. Such congressional inquests now pop up at a rate of one or two a year. In a push for transparency, Congress created an office which is required to probe reports of unidentified objects in the sky when reported by the military, as well as civilian and commercial pilots.Congressional intervention helped diminish the stigma associated with reporting UFOs. But not to the degree some would like. One witness said the agency tasked with investigating them routinely relies on a convenient shield to dismiss potential extraterrestrial encounters, out of hand.Or tentacle."[They say] the only way to scientifically prove [that something is] extraterrestrial is we have to go to that planet, acquire technology, bring it back, and compare it to what we have here," said Borland."So you're saying they won't let anything out unless they go to the planet and confirm its origin?" questioned Burlison."That would be scientific evidence. Yes," answered Borland.And before we get into a broader discussion about ET, we should note that one witness on the panel was Joe Spielberger, with the Project on Government Oversight."How do we get to these other planets? How do we pass the Van Allen Radiation Belt safely?" asked Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo.Astronauts aboard the Apollo missions to the moon successfully navigated the Van Allen radiation hazards. But radiation elsewhere in deep space presents a challenging problem for humans.Regardless, lawmakers believe the witnesses at the hearing were credible because of their positions in the military."The narrative has changed. It [would be] politically convenient for the government if you all weren't military folks in suits. It would be much better if you pulled up in Winnebagos and were wearing [tinfoil] hats," said Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla.Burchett flagged his legislation to safeguard UAP whistleblowers. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., who called the hearing, believes these types of whistleblowers are a special class and deserve extra protection."For most of our whistleblowers that come forward, the first thing that goes is their security clearance," said Luna. "The security clearance is their livelihood.""If I say the wrong word, technically I can be charged with espionage," said Borland.So lawmakers find themselves in the same posture as members of Congress in the 1950s and 1960s. Lots of questions. Few answers. But in the social media era, there are competing influences to simultaneously fuel skepticism and inhibit the ability of government to cover things up."Ithink it's clear from the hearing that there's advanced technology taking place in our airspace. The question is, is it ours or is it otherworldly?" asked Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn."I dont really know what is true," said Moskowitz. "But I do know when were being lied to.""This is not science fiction or creating speculation. This is about national security," said Luna.That means the U.S. is again in a space race. Its competing against China, Russia, North Korea, Iran and perhaps others to determine who can solve the UAP mystery first.And getting to the truth would be one giant leap for mankind.

In his last 24 hours, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk sent personal and public messages expressing his strong Christian faith and spoke out in defense of slain Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska.Moments before his assassination at Utah Valley University (UVU) during an event that was part of "The American Comeback Tour," Kirk spoke about the Bible. A man who was always open about his connection to faith, Kirk reaffirmed his belief in Jesus Christ, referring to Corinthians verses."Its not just intrabiblical evidence, but extrabiblical evidence that Jesus Christ was a real person, he lived a perfect life, he was crucified, died and rose on the third day, and he is Lord and God over all," Kirk said while sitting under the very tent where he would be fatally shot.CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION: TIMELINE OF UTAH CAMPUS SHOOTING DETAILS ATTACK, MANHUNT FOR SUSPECTDuring the event, Kirk debated with students as he usually did, often challenging those with opposing ideas to elaborate on their stances.The last person to ask Kirk a question was a UVU mathematics student, Hunter Kozak, 29, who goes by the name Hunter Stax online, according to the New York Post."Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?" Kozak asked. While Kirk said "too many," Kozak contested the number was five.Kirks final words were a question to Kozak for clarity on the number. He asked whether that was "counting or not counting gang violence." Thats when the shot rang out, ending the 31-year-old activist's life.CHARLIE KIRK'S SUSPECTED ASSASSIN IDENTIFIED AFTER FATAL SHOOTING OF INFLUENTIAL CONSERVATIVE VOICE IN UTAHKirk's final post on X read, "If we want things to change, its 100% necessary to politicize the senseless murder of Iryna Zarutska because it was politics that allowed a savage monster with 14 priors to be free on the streets to kill her."The post also included a video of Kirks analysis of the attack and a response to former Obama adviser Van Jones. Jones accused Kirk of unjustifiably citing race when discussing Zarutska's murder. Kirk had mentioned that the suspect, Decarlos Brown, was heard stating in the surveillance footage from the Charlotte, North Carolina, light rail train that he "got that white girl" twice. Moments later, Brown stabbed Zarutska to death.TOP CONSERVATIVE SPEAKERS VOW THEY 'WILL NOT BE SILENCED' AFTER CHARLIE KIRK'S ASSASSINATIONKirk addressed his back-and-forth with Jones on "The Will Cain Show" earlier this week, pointing out that the former Obama adviser often called George Floyds death a racist attack even if officials involved in the case did not. Kirk was one of many who drew parallels between the lack of reaction to Zarutska's murder in comparison to the response to Floyds death.He also posted about Zarustka on Instagram with a photo of the Ukrainian refugees terrified expression as she looked at her attacker, captioning it, "America will never be the same." Kirk's own life was taken hours later.Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, was one of several people to share screenshots of their final text messages with Kirk."Thank you so much. Just landed," Kirk wrote to the senator. "Event I think is going to be a win."Daily Wire reporter Kassy Akiva also shared her last messages with Kirk. While it is not obvious what issue the two were discussing in the exchange, Kirk says he needed to "be better and just mute the noise.""We all do. It's why I have a ton of friends who aren't into politics and when I see them, they have 0 idea about any of the controversies on Twitter. It's so refreshing," Akiva wrote, and Kirk responded in agreement.

A Secret Service employee was placed on immediate leave after celebrating Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk's assassination in a social media post, Fox News Digital confirmed."The U.S. Secret Service will not tolerate behavior that violates our code of conduct. This employee was immediately put on administrative leave, and an investigation has begun," a U.S. Secret Service spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Friday afternoon when asked about the employment status of Anthony Pough.Pough had celebrated Kirk's shocking assassination in a Facebook post, which included accusing the slain conservative firebrand of spewing "racism.""If you are Mourning [sic] this guy .. delete me. He spewed hate and racism on his show," he wrote, according to Real Clear Politics, which first reported on Pough's post on Thursday.CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION: TIMELINE OF UTAH CAMPUS SHOOTING DETAILS ATTACK, MANHUNT FOR SUSPECT"Especially when we should be mourning the innocent children killed in Colorado," he continued, referring to the Evergreen High School shooting that left two students injured on Wednesday.Real Clear Politics reported Pough was in "Phase 2" of his career with the agency, but had not yet been assigned a detail regularly protecting President Donald Trump. The Secret Service has three phases for special agents, with Phase 2 focused on protective assignments and Phase 3 focused on "post-protective field, protection, or headquarters assignment," according to the Secret Service's website.Pough blamed "karma" for Kirk's assassination in the inflammatory Facebook post."At the end of the day,you answer to GOD and speak things into existence. You can only circumvent karma, she doesnt [sic] leave," he wrote.Kirk was attending a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon when a single shot rang out and struck Kirk in the neck. He was transported to a local hospital, and was pronounced dead just hours later.Kirk leaves behind his wife, Erika Kirk, as well as their two children, ages 1 and 3. The Kirks married in 2021.Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance accompanied Kirk's casket back to Arizona, where he resided with his family, on Thursday via Air Force Two.Trump announced on Friday morning during an appearance on "Fox & Friends" that police had apprehended a suspect in the case. Tyler Robinson, 22, was later identified as the suspect in the assassination."We got him on the evening of Sept. 11," Utah Gov. Spencer Cox announced Friday morning."A family member of Tyler Robinson reached out to a family friend who contacted the Washington County Sheriff's Office with information that Robinson had confessed to them or implied that he had committed the incident."

Comcasts top executives scolded employees on Friday following MSNBCs coverage of the assassination of Charlie Kirk was deemed "at odds with fostering civil dialogue and being willing to listen to the points of view of those who have differing opinions."MSNBC fired political analyst Matthew Dowd on Wednesday for suggesting "hateful" rhetoric from Kirk led to his own assassination. Dowds remarks stunned many Americans, and Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, President Mike Cavanagh and prospective Versant CEO Mark Lazarus sent a memo on Friday to all Comcast NBCUniversal employees urging staffers to "do better" and properly engage in civil discourse."The tragic loss of Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old father, husband, and advocate for open debate, whose faith was important to him, reminds us of the fragility of life and the urgent need for unity in our nation. Our hearts are heavy, as his passing leaves a grieving family and a country grappling with division. There is no place for violence or hate in our society," the Comcast executives wrote.MSNBC FIRES ANALYST MATTHEW DOWD FOR 'UNACCEPTABLE' COMMENTS ABOUT CHARLIE KIRK"You may have seen that MSNBC recently ended its association with a contributor who made an unacceptable and insensitive comment about this horrific event," the statement continued. "That coverage was at odds with fostering civil dialogue and being willing to listen to the points of view of those who have differing opinions. We should be able to disagree, robustly and passionately, but, ultimately, with respect. We need to do better."After Kirk was shot Wednesday afternoon, Dowd suggested it was caused by a chain reaction from his "hateful words" against various groups. Kirk, a leading conservative activist and top ally of PresidentDonald Trump, later died at the age of 31.Before the news that Kirk had died, Dowd told MSNBC host Katy Tur, "We dont know any of the full details of this yet. We dont know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration."CHARLIE KIRK ROSE TO BECOME CONSERVATIVE POWERHOUSE, TRANSFORMATIVE CAMPUS FIGUREDowd said Kirk has been "one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this, who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.""I think thats the environment were in, that the people just you cant stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have, and then saying these awful words, and not expect awful actions to take place. And that's the unfortunate environment we're in," he added.Dowd's comments were widely condemned in the wake of the heartbreaking shooting, and he was terminated within hours."Charlie Kirk believed that when people stop talking, really bad stuff starts. Regardless of whether you agreed with his political views, his words and actions underscore the urgency to maintain a respectful exchange of ideas a principle we must champion," the Comcast executives wrote."We believe in the power of communication to bring us together. Today, that belief feels more vital than ever. Something essential has fractured in our public discourse, and as a company that values the power of information, we have a responsibility to help mend it," they added."As employees, we ask you to embody our values in your work and communities," the statement continued. "We should engage with respect, listen, and treat people with kindness."CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST MEDIA AND CULTURE NEWSDowd previously tried to backtrack on the liberal social media platform Bluesky."On an earlier appearance on MSNBC I was asked a question on the environment we are in. I apologize for my tone and words. Let me be clear, I in no way intended for my comments to blame Kirk for this horrendous attack. Let us all come together and condemn violence of any kind," Dowd wrote.Dowd, a Democrat who was formerly a Republican strategist and an independent, is one of the most rabidly anti-GOP voices on cable news.He made a failed bidfor the Democratic nomination for Texas lieutenant governor in 2021.Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, one of the most influential political organizations in the country, was shot while holding an event on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. He later died of his wound, leaving the country reeling from another act of horrific political violence.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPFox News Digitals Joseph A. Wulfsohn and Alexander Hall contributed to this report.

Conservatives on social media are railing against Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., over a substack appearance where she criticized conservative commentator Charlie Kirk following his assassination, with some calling for her to be removed from Congress."Rep. Ilhan Omar (D) is now ATTACKING and SMEARING Charlie Kirk after he was assassinated," conservative influencer account LibsofTikTokposted on X Thursday. "This is an elected representative. She needs to RESIGN. EVIL."Red State writer Bonchiewrote on X, "Ilhan Omar going on with Mehdi Hasan so they can both mock Charlie Kirk and lie about his actions to justify his assassination is exactly what youd expect.""Look at their grins," conservative influencer account End Wokenessposted on X.CHARLIE KIRK'S MURDER THE LATEST IN INCREASING POLITICAL VIOLENCE NATIONWIDE, FROM PA GOVERNOR TO SCOTUS"Yeah Ive had it with tolerance for evil," conservative influencer Robby Starbuckposted on X. "Expel Ilhan Omar from Congress and deport her to Somalia. She reportedly committed immigration fraud with her sham marriage to her brother so this shouldnt be hard to do. I have no tolerance left for this evil."The clip drew the attention of Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, whowrote on X, "@IlhanMN, in the United States of America we have freedom of speech."Boebert added, "I understand that in Somalia, where you come from and would do well to go back to, this isnt a thing. In our county, having political disagreements with someone isnt a reason to justify their execution."SECRET SERVICE UNDER PRESSURE: WHAT KIRKS ASSASSINATION MEANS FOR TRUMPS SECURITYFox News Digital reached out to Omars office for comment and was directed to asocial media post from Omar saying she "disagreed with Charlie Kirk vehemently about his rhetoric" but does not "wish violence on anyone.""Right-wing accounts trying to spin a false story when I condemned his murder multiple times is fitting for their agenda to villainize the left to hide from the fact that Donald Trump gins up hate on a daily basis."The interview in question, aZeteo Town Hall with Mehdi Hasan, began with Omar expressing condolences to Kirks family."It was really mortifying to hear the news," Omar said when asked about her reaction to the killing. "All I could think about was his wife, his children, that image is going to live forever."Omar added that her heart "breaks" for those babies before getting into a conversation about Republicans criticizing violence from the left, calling it "disgusting", and then criticizing Kirk and making the comments that infuriated conservatives online."But what I do know for sure is that Charlie Kirk was someone who once said, guns save lives after a school shooting," Omar said. "Charlie was someone who was willing to debate and downplay the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis policedownplay slavery and what Black people have gone through in this country by saying Juneteenth should never exist."Omar went on to lament that there are a "lot of people who are out there talking" about Kirk "just wanting to have a civil debate" prompting Hasan to interject and call it a "complete rewriting of history.""Yeah," Omar responded. "There is nothing more effed up than to completely pretend that his words and actions have not been recorded and in existence for the last decade or so."Omar then criticized GOP Rep. Nancy Mace and President Trump saying the president has "incited violence against people like me.""And so, you know, these people are full of sh--, and its important for us to call them out, while we feel anger and sadness and have, you know, empathy, which Charlie said it shouldnt exist because thats a newly created word or something," Omar said. "Like I have empathy for his kids and his wife and what theyre going through because I do not want that. No one should go through that and we should hold ourselves, I hope, to a higher standard."Hasan then claimed that the "politicizing is being done by the right" and referred to it as a "problem" that you cant say "anything negative" about someone when they die.""Im happy to not say anything negative and let the family mourn but its when everyone else tries to kind of do a whitewashing of who that person was," Hasan continued as Omar nodded along.The X account for Zeteo News, founded by Hasan, wrote "this is a lie" in response to criticism over Omar's comments, noting that Omar reacted with "sadness" for Kirk's family.On Friday, authorities announced that they had arrested a suspect, 22-year-old Utah resident Tyler Robinson.President Trump called Kirk's murder a "dark moment" for the United States and ordered flags to be flown at half-mast until Sunday evening.

FIRST ON FOX: After Charlie Kirks murder, a plan to launch the first-in-the-nation standalone hate crimes bill focused on political violence will have bipartisan support in the otherwise deep-blue state of New Jersey.In a Friday interview shortly after announcing the legislation, state Sen. Doug Steinhardt, R-Belvidere, told Fox News Digital the bill has support from at least one major Democrat; portending potential good political fortunes.Steinhardts bill, to be introduced when the session returns from recess, has the support of state Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Brian Stack, D-Union City, who is also mayor of that New York City suburb."No person should fear hate-fueled political violence for expressing their opinion, and anyone who resorts to such violence to silence that opinion will suffer the full weight of the law," Steinhardt said.CHARLIE KIRK'S MURDER THE LATEST IN INCREASING POLITICAL VIOLENCE NATIONWIDE FROM PA GOVERNOR TO SCOTUSHe noted that West Virginia, the District of Columbia and Iowa have references to politics in terms of bias-fueled violence but that New Jersey would be the first to unconditionally categorize violence like Kirks murder as a hate crime.Sussex County Commission Director Chris Carney was also recorded as a supporter of the bill.In a separate statement, Steinhardt credited Carney, who leads the rural county at the Garden States northwestern tip often dubbed "The Skylands," for offering "leadership and foresight" in formulating the bill."Like a lot of things in life, there's some predicate act that prompts all of us to speak up and act, and I think taking steps toward calling political violence what it is was long overdue," Steinhardt told Fox News Digital during his interview.He said the bill does not create a new category of crime but provides enhanced hate-crime penalties for crimes committed to "punish or silence" someone from engaging in politics or expressing their personal views.CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING LEADS TO OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FROM UTAH OFFICIALS, 2025 NOMS ON BOTH SIDESSteinhardt lamented that American political discourse has devolved to a point where someone as physically peaceful as Kirk could be murdered for simply expressing interest in discourse and debate.His bill announcement referenced multiple attempts on President Donald Trumps life, the killing of a Minnesota lawmaker earlier this year and an arson attack against Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as his family celebrated Passover at the governors mansion in Harrisburg.Steinhardt also referenced arsons at Tesla dealerships that were linked to hatred toward company CEO Elon Musk, then a close confidant of Trump, as well as the assassination attempt on several Republicans at an Alexandria, Virginia, ballfield several years ago that gravely wounded Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La.In separate comments on Kirk's murder, state Sen. Joe Pennacchio called the activist a "warrior" who "fought for the principles he believed in, such as traditional American values and politics, but especially his faith."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"As a warrior, his weapon of choice was the word. Our foundation as human beings is built upon and expressed by words," said Pennacchio, R-Morristown.He echoed Steinhardt's call for civility, adding in a statement that "demonizing someone with words has proven to be as lethal as any other weapon man has known."To those who choose to do so, stop."Fox News Digital reached out to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy about whether he would support Steinhardt's legislation.

A Tennessee congressman criticized President Donald Trumps plan to send National Guard resources to Memphis, saying Friday that as a part-time Washingtonian, the city doesnt feel any safer after its own anti-crime operation."I had hoped the National Guard would not be deployed here [to Memphis]," said Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., who represents the "Home of the Blues."Cohen said the real way to fix the crime problem there is via better investments in "proven programs" and that the announcement appears to be the premiere of the "Trump Show 2.0" after the president previously deployed National Guard troops in Washington, D.C."Thats what I think this is about, and that would harm our local economy, particularly the tourist and construction industries. This is all about Trump showing the world that hes a tough guy," Cohen said.TRUMP'S MEMPHIS NATIONAL GUARD NEWS BOOSTS HAGERTY'S AISLE-CROSSING WORK TO CRUSH CITY CRIME, SENATOR SAYSThe lawmaker also claimed that, as a part-time resident during the congressional session, he has not seen any marked improvement in the District since Trump engaged the guard there earlier this year."D.C. has been my second home for 19 years. I have a condo and a car, and I live in the city after work, [and] not in my office. I do not perceive any change in the level of safety since Trumps deployment of the National Guard in D.C.CHICAGO CRIME, NATIONAL GUARD PUSH MOVE TO FOREFRONT OF TRUMPS WEEK"The president recently went out to a restaurant in D.C. and said that it is now the safest town in the world, and that it is safe to walk anywhere. Thats not true."Cohen claimed many of the arrests made have been "low-level" offenders and that while crime in the capital is "bad," it was already declining along with national trends.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPMemphis, he said, has a checkered past with Jim Crow conflicts but is not the "troubled city" the president claimed."We have a crime problem. We do have problems that may be endemic, but they are the result of centuries of racial discrimination, including slavery that separated families without educational opportunities," he said.Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.

President Donald Trump revealed Friday that slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk was like a "son" to him.During an interview with "Fox & Friends," Trump described what the 31-year-old Turning Point USA founder meant to him and to the conservative movement."You know, Don said to me, Hes sort of like a son to you," Trump said, quoting his son Donald Trump Jr.s description of the president and Kirks relationship.COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CHARLIE KIRKKirk was shot and killed Wednesday during the opening event of Turning Point's "The American Comeback Tour," held at Utah Valley University. Kirk was speaking from what was dubbed a "Prove Me Wrong Table" when he was assassinated in front of hundreds of audience members, many of them college students.During his interview with Fox News, Trump suggested investigators may have a suspect in custody, saying, "I think with a high degree of certainty, we have him." He added that, "essentially, someone who knew him turned him in."Later in the morning, a press conference that included Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that authorities had suspect Tyler Robinson in custody for the killing.FORMER SPECIAL AGENT EXPLAINS WHY FBI KEPT KIRK SHOOTER'S IDENTITY SECRETTrump continued, remarking on the large influence Kirk had over the conservative movement in America, especially among young people."Ive never seen young people or any group go to one person like they did to Charlie. Hed go out to Arizona, to any school, to Utah where he was but any school and he would have bigger rallies than any radical left speaker, and it was killing them," he said."No, he was an unbelievable talent, but it wasnt really so much a talent. He just really believed it. He just believed it. He loved young people. He wanted to help young people, and he didn't deserve this."Elsewhere, Trump described speaking to Kirks wife, Erika, following the shooting, saying she was "devastated."CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST MEDIA AND CULTURE NEWSThe president added that Kirks organization plans to continue in his stead."But in between the devastation, they want to keep Turning Point going," he said."He was such a great guy that he had to end this way," Trump remarked. "But you know, in many ways, hes bigger now because of what happened."The president also praised Charlie Kirks conservative beliefs, saying, "His was basically just good. Family he talked about family he talked about, Get married. Go get married, you know? It sounds old-fashioned when you think about it, but hes right. He was just on."Its a shame that that voice has been stopped."

Brian Walshe, the Massachusetts man accused of dismembering his wife, was attacked in jail on Thursday, weeks ahead of his murder trial.Walshe was assaulted inside a housing unit at a correctional center in Dedham just before 10 p.m. The Norfolk County Sheriffs Office didn't identify Walshe as the victim, but his lawyer, Larry Tipton, confirmed to Masslive.com that Walshe was stabbed.Walshe was taken to the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston for treatment and returned to the jail overnight, the sheriff's office said in a statement to Fox News Digital.BRIAN WALSHE MURDER TRIAL: PROSECUTORS SAY HUSBAND DISMEMBERED WIFE ANA TO DODGE PRISON IN ART FRAUD CASE"The other individual involved was subdued by officers, and a makeshift blunt instrument was recovered," the statement said.The incident is being investigated.Walshe is accused of killing and dismembering his wife, Ana, in January 2023. He is scheduled to go to trial in October.Ana Walshe, a mother of three young children and a real estate professional who worked in Washington, D.C., disappeared on New Years Day 2023 and was reported missing a few days later. Her body has never been recovered.TIMELINE OF ANA WALSHE'S DISAPPEARANCE AND BRIAN WALSHE'S ARRESTBrian Walshe was captured on Home Depot surveillance video buying various items, including three mops and brushes, two splash-resistant goggles and a utility knife. Investigators believe he used the items to dispose of his wife's body.During the search for Ana, investigators found a hacksaw with a "small bone fragment" in a dumpster across the street from Walshe's mother's house. In the days after his wife's disappearance, Walshe allegedly used his son's iPad to make over a dozen Google searches about how to discard a body, prosecutors said.Before the disappearance, Walshe hired a private investigator because he suspected his wife was cheating on him.At the time, the couple's marriage was on the rocks because of Brian's unrelated legal troubles. He had been under house arrest as part of his pre-sentencing probation for selling fake Andy Warhol paintings, according to prosecutors.Fox News Digital's Chris Eberhart and Mollie Markowitz contributed to this report.