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Utah Gov. Spencer Cox revealed that Charlie Kirk assassination suspect Tyler Robinson is not cooperating with investigators, and confirmed Sunday that the alleged gunman’s live-in boyfriend is transgender.

Cox, in a series of interviews on Sunday morning talk shows, said that Robinson’s romantic partner, as well as his family, are all cooperating with the FBI investigation into Kirk’s killing.


  Utah Governor Spencer Cox speaks in a CNN interview about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. CNN Utah Governor Spencer Cox speaks in a CNN interview about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. CNN

  Lance Twiggs was Tyler Robinson’s transgender roommate. Lance Twiggs/ TikTok Lance Twiggs was Tyler Robinson’s transgender roommate. Lance Twiggs/ TikTok

“He [Robinson] has not confessed to authorities. He is not cooperating, but all the people around him are cooperating. And I think that’s very important,” Cox told ABC News’ “This Week” on Sunday.

He also reiterated that Robinson was “deeply indoctrinated in leftist ideology.”


  The Post’s front page on the coverage of Charlie Kirk’s alleged shooter.
 The Post’s front page on the coverage of Charlie Kirk’s alleged shooter.

Authorities arested Robsinson, 22, on Thursday evening after his father recognized him in FBI photos of the suspect who shot Kirk at Utah Valley University last Wednesday. 

Cox previously told the Wall Street Journal that Robsinson was “deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology” and has since teased that more specifics will come out when charges against the shooting suspect drop on Tuesday.

“That information comes from the people around him — his family members and friends,” Cox told CNN’s “State of the Union.” “There were conversations that were discussed specifically about Charlie Kirk.”


  Cox said that Robinson’s romantic partner is cooperating with the FBI investigation into Kirk’s killing. Lance Twiggs/ TikTok Cox said that Robinson’s romantic partner is cooperating with the FBI investigation into Kirk’s killing. Lance Twiggs/ TikTok

  Twiggs is seen dancing in his room on TikTok. Lance Twiggs/ TikTok Twiggs is seen dancing in his room on TikTok. Lance Twiggs/ TikTok

  While Cox confirmed The Post’s reporting that Robinson’s roommate is transgender, he was cautious about tying that to his motive. Lance Twiggs/ TikTok While Cox confirmed The Post’s reporting that Robinson’s roommate is transgender, he was cautious about tying that to his motive. Lance Twiggs/ TikTok

“He does come from a conservative family. But his ideology was very different than his family,” the governor told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Investigators are still working to piece together a full picture of the motives behind the assassination of Kirk. One factor that the Beehive State Republican blamed for Robinson’s radicalization is social media, which he ripped as worse than “cancer.”

“I believe that social media has played a direct role in every single assassination and assassination attempt that we have seen over the last five, six years. There is no question in my mind,” Cox told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday.  

“Cancer probably isn’t a strong enough word. What we have done especially to our kids, it took us a decade to realize how evil these algorithms are. And we’re doing everything in Utah. First state in the nation a couple years ago to pass comprehensive reform.”

The governor also confirmed The Post’s reporting that Robinson’s roommate is transgender, but he was cautious about tying that to his motive.


  A bolt-action rifle recovered near the scene where Charlie Kirk was fatally shot. Obtained by the NY Post A bolt-action rifle recovered near the scene where Charlie Kirk was fatally shot. Obtained by the NY Post

  People running away after a shot was fired during a Utah Valley University speaking event in Orem, Utah. via REUTERS People running away after a shot was fired during a Utah Valley University speaking event in Orem, Utah. via REUTERS

“The roommate was a romantic partner, a male transitioning to female,” Cox told “State of the Union.” “This partner has been incredibly cooperative [and] had no idea that this was happening. And, he’s working with investigators right now.”

Kirk had been an outspoken critic of the transgender movement and frequently debated college students about whether it’s possible for one to change their gender.

Recently, Cox spoke with President Trump about the shooting and was struck by how the president was impacted by the brutal death of his friend. 

“It was a long conversation where we talked about lots of things, but it was very sobering,” Cox recounted. “He [Trump] knows better than anyone as someone who literally was injured by a bullet.”


  Charlie Kirk’s wife Erika Kirk, shares emotional post. Erika Kirk Charlie Kirk’s wife Erika Kirk, shares emotional post. Erika Kirk

  Charlie and Erika Kirk with their two young children. Instagram/mrserikakirk Charlie and Erika Kirk with their two young children. Instagram/mrserikakirk

“I understand he’s also very angry. And I get that this is his close personal friend,” he added. “Anger is a normal reaction.”

Trump has publicly called for Robinson to receive the death penalty and hoped that the courts could sort through the case quickly. 

Utah still has the death penalty in place and last carried out an execution last year, which was its first use of capital punishment in 14 years. 

Cox took note of the anger that key conservative figures and Americans in general are feeling in the aftermath of Kirk’s assassination, but urged everyone to take the temperature down. He also stressed that the recent spike in political violence is not new. 


  The suspected shooter is seen perched up on a nearby building, moments before Kirk is fatally shot.
 The suspected shooter is seen perched up on a nearby building, moments before Kirk is fatally shot.

  Tyler Robinson with a machine gun. amber.j.robinson.1/Facebook Tyler Robinson with a machine gun. amber.j.robinson.1/Facebook

“We have seen an escalation in violence that has been happening across the country. We’ve had periods like this in our past history. I’ve mentioned before in the late ’60s and early ’70s, certainly we saw these types of high-profile political assassinations, another dark time in our history,” he reflected. 

In addition to Kirk, there has been a string of recent political violence across the country.

This includes former Minnesota state House Speaker Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband being gunned down, Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife beingshot, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s (D) home beingfirebombed, Trump facing two high-profile assassination attempts, a madman with a hammer bludgeoning the husband of Rep. Nancy Pelosi, a sicko being arrested for trying to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2022, and more. 


  Trump addressed the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk in an Oval Office video. TruthSocial / @realDonaldTrump Trump addressed the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk in an Oval Office video. TruthSocial / @realDonaldTrump

  Kirk hands out hats before speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, moments before he was assassinated. AP Kirk hands out hats before speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, moments before he was assassinated. AP

“People keep waiting for somebody to lead us out of this,” he went on. “And I think that’s a mistake. I don’t think any one person, certainly not a governor, I don’t think a president, I don’t think anyone can change the trajectory of this. It truly is about every single one of us. And I can’t emphasize enough the damage that social media and the internet is doing to all of us.”

“We are losing our agency. And we have to take that back. We have to turn it off. We have to get back to community, caring about our neighbors, the things that make Americans great, serving each other, bettering ourselves, exercising, sleeping, all of those things that this takes away from us.”

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