Brian Harpole Sues Candace Owens Over Charlie Kirk Assassination Claims
Brian Harpole, the former security chief for Charlie Kirk, has filed a federal defamation lawsuit against Candace Owens, accusing the commentator of spreading false claims that connected him to Kirk’s assassination.
The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. It names Owens, Candace Owens LLC, GeorgeTom Inc. and Mitchell Snow as defendants, alleging defamation and conspiracy to defame. Harpole says Owens used her podcast, website and social media accounts to amplify claims that he had foreknowledge of, participated in, or helped cover up Kirk’s killing.
The claims have not been proven in court. A complaint is an opening legal filing, not a judicial finding.
Harpole says he was the founder and head of Integrity Security Solutions, which provided security for Kirk and Turning Point USA, including at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, where Kirk was fatally shot. Utah prosecutors separately charged Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder in Kirk’s death, a charge that could carry the death penalty if Robinson is convicted.
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The lawsuit says Owens made multiple statements between October 2025 and the filing of the complaint that allegedly implied Harpole had criminal involvement or professional responsibility for Kirk’s death. The complaint seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages, a jury trial and an injunction requiring removal of allegedly defamatory statements.
Owens has publicly disputed the framing of the lawsuit. On her show, she argued Harpole became a limited-purpose public figure, said she could not confirm Snow’s claim that he saw Harpole, and suggested the lawsuit may give her access to subpoena power.
The legal consequence is straightforward: the court may now have to decide whether Owens’ statements were protected commentary or actionable factual claims.
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