In responding to the news of Charlie Kirk's assassination on Wednesday night, I expressed the following concern:
As of this writing, Utah Republican Governor Spencer Cox has announced "a person of interest" is in custody. If this is indeed the person responsible for killing Charlie Kirk, then that person should be prosecuted and sentenced to the fullest extent of the law.
With that being said, I fear that President Trump and his allies will use Kirk's assassination as a justification to use our military to suppress political speech they dislike up to and including shutting down media outlets and imprisoning (and even executing) people they deem to be subversive.
Well, the "person of interest" did not turn out to be the suspect. However, the alleged shooter is now in custody with family having urged him to give himself up. In which case, charges will be forthcoming. The accused will have his day in court and, if convicted, will very likely be executed.
However, it would seem that President Trump is not content with that outcome. Posting a video on Truth Social from the Oval Office before the suspect was in custody Trump declared:
My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it, as well as those who go after our judges, law enforcement officials, and everyone else who brings order to our country.
So, who exactly will Trump blame for the atrocity which resulted in Charlie Kirk's death? Will this be based on the suspect's online habits? Or will Trump simply pick a scapegoat? What organizations will be held responsible for the killing of Kirk? Will they be criminally charged? Or will their offices simply be shut down by the Department of War?
What exactly Trump will do to those who he deems guilty of having "contributed to this atrocity" isn't exactly clear. But what is clear is that he intends to make an example out of somebody. Perhaps a lot of somebodies.
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