Candace Owens under attack from conservatives; Taylor Robinson-Charlie Kirk case comments spark new controversy
Conservative commentator Candace Owens faces sharp criticism from several prominent right-wing figures as the preliminary hearing for Taylor Robinson, accused of killing Turning Point America founder Charlie Kirk, continues in Utah. The backlash intensified after Owens repeatedly questioned Robinson’s case and suggested key parts of the prosecution’s argument didn’t hold up. As prosecutors wrapped up a week of testimony Thursday, critics accused Owens of helping Robinson’s defense by raising questions about evidence presented in court. These developments have now sparked public battles among some of the biggest names in conservative media.
Why Candace Owens’ comments about Taylor Robinson drew criticism
The latest debate comes as prosecutors continue their case against Taylor Robinson, who is charged with aggravated murder in connection with the September 2025 shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.A key moment in Thursday’s hearing involved video testimony from Robinson’s former roommate and partner, Lance Twiggs. Twiggs told investigators that Robinson made disturbing comments after the shooting, according to prosecutors. Court records presented during the hearing also included Robinson leaving a note saying he had “a chance to take down Charlie Kirk” and later sending messages explaining why he was targeting the conservative activist.Judge Tony Graf ordered parts of the recording to be expunged before the video was released. Robinson’s defense team argued that releasing the full interview before the trial could unfairly sway public opinion. About 16 minutes were cut from the 37-minute recording before it was played in court.Owens spent months challenging the prosecution’s case. At one point, she described Robinson as a “complete scapegoat” and argued he wasn’t even on the college campus when the shooting occurred.That account received new scrutiny this week, as prosecutors introduced security footage in which they said Robinson was on campus four times on the day of the shooting.
Ben Shapiro, Laura Loomer and Blake Neff fire back at Candace Owens
As details of the hearing became public, some conservative commentators publicly questioned Owens’ account.Turning Point producer Blake Neff criticized her stance and questioned why she defended Robinson so staunchly. Manhattan Institute researcher Colin Wright also dismissed an argument by Owens that a man seen in the court video looked too tall to be Robinson. Wright said there was no credible evidence for this claim. Criticism was even more intense online.Activist Laura Loomer wrote on X that Owens “has been hinting for months that she would be willing to help” with Robinson’s defense. Loomer also accused Owens of siding with those who wanted Robinson to be acquitted.Ben Shapiro also weighed in on the debate. In social media posts, he accused Owens of spending months attacking Kirk’s widow, friends and colleagues while benefiting from the attention surrounding the case.Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Corvette made similar accusations, claiming Owens was using Kirk’s death and legacy to draw attention to herself.Another point of disagreement involves a report released in March. Owens cited a tabloid report that court documents showed the bullet that killed Kirk did not match Robinson’s rifle, The Washington Times reported. After the report was released, she went on a podcast to call for Robinson to be acquitted.However, the Washington Examiner noted that prosecutors presented several other pieces of evidence, including surveillance video, a rifle found near the scene, text messages allegedly discussing motive and testimony from Robinson’s parents and Lance Twiggs.Robinson has yet to enter a plea. His lawyers have not spoken publicly about his guilt or innocence, although they have tried unsuccessfully to eliminate the possibility of the death penalty. Judge Tony Graf is expected to decide whether prosecutors have presented enough evidence to move the case to trial.
