Former Charlie Kirk Security Chief Sues Candace Owens for Defamation

Brian Harpole, who served as Charlie Kirk’s security chief on the day Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University in September, filed a defamation lawsuit against conservative activist Candace Owens on Thursday. Attorney Matt Sarelson of Dhillon Law Group alleges Owens falsely accused Harpole of conspiring with the U.S. government to assassinate Kirk and of attending a classified meeting at Fort Huachuca on September 9, 2025. The complaint seeks compensatory and punitive damages, asserting that Owens’s statements have damaged Harpole’s reputation and caused emotional distress.

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After Kirk’s September killing, Owens repeatedly posted on X and discussed on her podcast that Harpole’s security team was “shady” and that he participated in a covert government operation. A December 12 X post claimed Harpole lied about the shooting and about placing a 911 call. Owens also reached out to Harpole on December 17 for an “off-the-record discussion,” which he did not answer, and then continued to reference him on her podcast for weeks.

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• Brian Harpole – former security chief for Charlie Kirk, plaintiff.

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• Candace Owens – conservative commentator, defendant.

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• Charlie Kirk – activist whose assassination triggered the dispute.

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• Tyler Robinson – 22-year-old suspect arrested for aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and felony discharge of a firearm; prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

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• Matt Sarelson – attorney representing Harpole.

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• Christopher D. Ballard – spokesperson for the Utah County Attorney’s Office.

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• ATF – agency that performed a bullet-fragment analysis.

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• Robinson’s defense has asked to delay a preliminary hearing scheduled for May to review extensive material, including a recent ballistics report.

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• An ATF analysis of a bullet fragment was inconclusive, meaning the fragment lacked sufficient detail to link it to a specific firearm.

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• Harpole’s travel records place him in Dallas, Texas, on the date Owens alleged he was at Fort Huachuca.

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• Owens’s December 12 X post and December 17 outreach are documented in the complaint.

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The complaint asserts Owens’s statements are “false on their face” and not protected opinion, alleging they falsely claim Harpole knew Kirk would be killed or participated in any cover-up. Owens responded on her podcast, calling the lawsuit “curious” and noting she never received a retraction demand. She added on X that the claim about Harpole losing clients “is certainly an interesting claim.” Utah County Attorney’s Office spokesperson Christopher D. Ballard explained that an inconclusive ATF result simply indicates insufficient detail to match the fragment to a particular weapon.

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The filing characterizes Owens as “the most high-profile spreader of baseless Charlie Kirk conspiracy theories,” contending that her remarks have emboldened others to propagate similar claims. The complaint also notes Owens has faced additional litigation over remarks concerning French first lady Brigitte Macron.

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• The ATF report provides no definitive link between the bullet fragment and the rifle allegedly used by Robinson, leaving forensic evidence unresolved.

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• Owens claims Harpole’s business losses stem from her statements, while the complaint alleges reputational harm without independent verification.

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• No third-party source confirms Owens’s alleged “credible tip” from a military member about Harpole’s presence at Fort Huachuca.

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• “Owens is the most high profile spreader of baseless Charlie Kirk conspiracy theories, but she is not the only one. Her actions have encouraged and emboldened and otherwise given cover to other people to jump on the Charlie Kirk conspiracy bandwagon,” — Complaint, legal filing

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• “All of Owens’s statements are either false on their face or create a false meaning reasonably conveyed by the published words. They are not protected opinions, rhetorical hyperbole, or questions without defamatory implication. It is simply false that Harpole knew Charlie Kirk was going to die or was involved in the planning, commission, or alleged cover-up of the assassination,” — Complaint, legal filing

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• “How curious,” she said. “What do you mean? You never communicated with me. You never spoke. You never issued any sort of retraction demand. You never answered me when I reached out. This is not at all how it normally goes. I’m pretty accustomed to how lawsuits work.” — Candace Owens, podcast

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• “It’s certainly an interesting claim that Brian Harpole is losing clients/contracts because of me—and not like, you know, how his last job ended.” — Candace Owens, X post

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• “When the results of a bullet fragment analysis come back as inconclusive, that means only that the fragment did not contain enough detail for the examiner to determine whether the characteristics on the fragment were consistent with having been fired by a particular firearm.” — Christopher D. Ballard, Utah County Attorney’s Office

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The lawsuit underscores the legal risks of spreading unverified conspiracy theories about individuals tied to high-profile violent incidents. It highlights the tension between free-speech protections and defamation claims, especially when misinformation may shape public perception of ongoing criminal investigations.

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Harpole is pursuing punitive damages against Owens. Owens’s legal team is preparing a defense, citing procedural concerns. Robinson’s preliminary hearing remains set for May, pending the defense’s delay request. The ATF is conducting additional testing on the bullet fragment, and further forensic findings may influence the criminal case.

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