Two Florida Atlantic University professors, Karen Leader and Rebel Cole, say they have been reinstated after paid administrative leaves tied to their comments about the Sept. 10 assassination of Charlie Kirk. Cole posted a letter saying an internal inquiry recommended the leaves be "lifted without the imposition of discipline." Leader confirmed her return but noted a third FAU academic remains on leave. A wider investigation found more than 600 people faced discipline over remarks about the killing; Cole has also filed a lawsuit against FAU.
Two FAU Professors Reinstated After Leaves Over Comments Tied to Charlie Kirk's Assassination
Two Florida Atlantic University professors, Karen Leader and Rebel Cole, say they have been reinstated after paid administrative leaves tied to their comments about the Sept. 10 assassination of Charlie Kirk. Cole posted a letter saying an internal inquiry recommended the leaves be "lifted without the imposition of discipline." Leader confirmed her return but noted a third FAU academic remains on leave. A wider investigation found more than 600 people faced discipline over remarks about the killing; Cole has also filed a lawsuit against FAU.
10:44 AM, 11/21/2025Society
Two Florida Atlantic University professors say they have been allowed to return to campus after being placed on paid administrative leave over public comments tied to the Sept. 10 assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
Karen Leader, an associate professor of art history at FAU, and Rebel Cole, a finance professor at the same university, said officials informed them they can resume their duties after separate paid administrative leaves related to remarks they made about the killing.
Cole shared a letter on LinkedIn stating that an internal inquiry recommended the administrative leave be "lifted without the imposition of discipline." Leader confirmed to the press that she also has been reinstated, but she said a third FAU academic remains on leave.
"The administrative leave should be lifted without the imposition of discipline," the letter posted by Cole said.
Both professors were among several academics whose cases surfaced amid a wider national wave of workplace discipline following the incident. A recent probe found more than 600 Americans were fired, investigated or otherwise disciplined over comments about the killing, ranging from overt celebrations to more measured critiques of Kirk's politics.
Cole had been scrutinized for public remarks supportive of Kirk, including a statement in which he said he would "hunt down" people celebrating the assassination. Leader had posted a string of messages critical of Kirk and highlighting his past statements.
Cole previously filed a lawsuit against FAU over his suspension; in his LinkedIn post he said the suit will continue "until FAU administrators offer a settlement that makes up for this enormous administrative blunder." Cole and his attorney did not immediately respond to requests for further comment. FAU did not immediately reply to requests for comment about the reinstatements or the status of the third employee.
By Raphael Satter