Judge Tony Graf Jr. ordered the release of a redacted transcript from a sealed hearing in the Charlie Kirk killing and said an audio recording will be released after further redactions. The transcript contains 246 words removed from an 80-page document; the audio should be ready in about two weeks. Tyler Robinson, 22, is accused of firing the fatal shot at a Turning Point USA event and faces seven charges, including aggravated murder; he has not entered a plea.
Judge Orders Release Of Redacted Transcript; Audio From Sealed Charlie Kirk Hearing To Follow
Tyler Robinson, accused of the murder of Charlie Kirk, appears during a hearing in Fourth District Court in Provo, Utah, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025.
A Utah judge has ordered the public release of a redacted transcript from a previously sealed hearing tied to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and said an audio recording will be released after additional redactions.
Judge Details Redactions, Timeline
Fourth District Judge Tony Graf Jr. ruled that 246 words must be removed from the 80-page transcript before it is made public. He said the transcript should be available by the end of the day and that redacting the audio recording will take about two weeks.
Judge Tony Graf presides over a hearing for the suspect in Charlie Kirk's assassination, Tyler Robinson, in Fourth District Court in Provo, Utah, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025.
What Happened
Prosecutors say 22-year-old Tyler Robinson fired a single shot from a rooftop overlooking a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. The bullet struck 31-year-old Charlie Kirk in the neck as he answered audience questions in a campus courtyard. Kirk died from the wound; he was a married father of two and the founder of Turning Point USA.
Courtroom Access And Media Requests
A coalition of local and national news organizations, including Fox News, sought limited intervention in the case. The group requested formal recognition from the court, advance notice of any efforts to close future hearings or otherwise limit courtroom access (including by banning cameras), and time to oppose such restrictions. Judge Graf denied the formal intervention but reiterated an earlier order that attorneys must notify the media before seeking to close future hearings. He clarified, however, that parties are not required to give advance notice before moves to restrict cameras or other electronic coverage.
Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during an event in Utah on Sept. 10, 2025.
Camera Ban Rejected; Narrow Limits Imposed
Robinson's defense asked the judge to bar cameras from the courtroom entirely. Graf rejected an outright ban as "disproportionate" to the defendant's privacy and safety concerns and instead issued narrower limits on what may be recorded or shown.
"[I would] rather do it right and take more time than to be rash and miss the mark," Judge Graf said, noting his intent to balance transparency with privacy and legal protections.
Case Developments And Next Steps
Robinson has appeared in court in person only once since the September shooting and has not yet entered a plea. Authorities say he returned to southern Utah after the shooting, allegedly confessed to his roommate and partner, Lance Twiggs, and to his parents, and then surrendered to Washington County deputies. Twiggs is cooperating with investigators and has not been charged.
Charlie Kirk’s final book is a "manifesto against the machine of modern life," encouraging his followers to "stop in the name of God" and honor the Sabbath.
The defendant faces seven charges, including aggravated murder — a count that carries the possibility of the death penalty — as well as felony discharge of a firearm, obstruction and witness tampering. He is due back in court in person on Jan. 16 for a longer hearing, during which the defense is expected to press a motion to recuse a prosecutor who had a relative present at the time of Kirk's death.
Reporters Melissa Chrise, Stepheny Price and Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report for Fox News.
