{"id":2672709,"date":"2026-09-29T12:23:01","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T16:23:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/candace-owens-faces-second-defamation-case-over-kirk-theories\/"},"modified":"2026-09-29T12:27:21","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T16:27:21","slug":"candace-owens-faces-second-defamation-case-over-kirk-theories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/candace-owens-faces-second-defamation-case-over-kirk-theories\/","title":{"rendered":"Candace Owens faces second defamation case over Kirk theories"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcandace-owens-faces-second-defamation-case-over-kirk-theories%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2672709&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A witness to Charlie Kirk\u2019s assassination, Robert Hild, filed a federal lawsuit against podcaster Candace Owens, accusing her of falsely suggesting he was involved in the Utah killing. Owens amplified conspiracy theories on her podcast, claiming Hild had ties to malicious foreign actors and connections to the murder, which led to threats and emotional distress for Hild. The lawsuit states Owens spread falsehoods about Hild, including implicating him as a suspect based on photos taken after Kirk\u2019s shooting, and equated him with other figures like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Owens also faces a defamation suit from Kirk\u2019s security head over related claims. Owens defends her commentary as protected free speech. The case highlights the damaging impact of Owens\u2019s conspiracy theories on innocent individuals and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/donald-trump-voluntarily-drops-suit-against-michael-cohen\/\" title=\"Trump drops ... against Cohen.\">ongoing legal disputes surrounding<\/a> her commentary.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A witness to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/charlie-kirk\/\">Charlie Kirk\u2019s<\/a> assassination sued podcaster <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/candace-owens\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"5659\">Candace Owens<\/a> on Monday for suggesting he was involved in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/utah\/\">Utah<\/a> killing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Washington State native Robert Hild became \u201ca target for verbal attack\u201d and death threats by Owens\u2019s followers over her <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/conspiracy-theories\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"3333\">conspiracy theories<\/a> about the Turning Point USA founder\u2019s September 2025 death, his lawyers said in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HildvsCandaceOwens_15b9a1.pdf\">73-page federal complaint<\/a>. Owens is also facing an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HarpolevsCandaceOwens.pdf\">April defamation suit<\/a> from the head of Kirk\u2019s private security over similar claims on Owens\u2019s popular podcast, <em>Candace<\/em>.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<style>.explore-more-section { background: var(--wex-bg); border-top: 1px solid #ffffff; border-bottom: 1px solid #ffffff; margin: 24px 0; margin-top: -20px; }<\/style>\n<style id=\"mos-5d512306-7d35-4039-99ed-3570b6187334-style\">@scope (#mos-5d512306-7d35-4039-99ed-3570b6187334) { .we-meter {   --we-red: #DB3745;   --we-charcoal: #323E48;   --we-blue: #15BEF0;   --we-slate: #85A0AB;   --we-gold: #ECC270;   --we-text: #323E48;   --we-border: #85A0AB;    max-width: 800px;   margin: 0 auto;   padding: 1.5rem;   border: 1px solid rgba(33, 39, 42, 0.4);   border-radius: 12px;   background: #fff;   color: var(--we-text);   font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif !important; }  .we-grid {   display: grid;   grid-template-columns: 1fr 200px;   gap: 1.5rem;   align-items: center; }  .we-title {   margin: 0 0 0.5rem;   font-family: Constantia, \"Lucida Bright\", \"DejaVu Serif\", Georgia, \"serif\" !important;   font-size: 1.75rem !important;   line-height: 1.1 !important;   letter-spacing: -0.02em !important; }  .we-title span {   display: block;   color: var(--we-red); }  .we-copy {   margin: 0;   font-size: 1rem !important;   line-height: 1.4 !important; }  .we-actions {   text-align: center; }  .we-cta {   display: flex;   align-items: center;   justify-content: center;   gap: 8px;   width: 100%;   padding: 12px 16px;   border-radius: 8px;   background: var(--we-red);   color: #fff !important;   text-decoration: none;   font-size: 0.9rem !important;   font-weight: 700 !important; }  .we-arrow {   font-size: 1.2em !important; }  .we-member {   margin: 12px 0 0;   font-size: 0.85rem !important;   line-height: 1.4 !important; }  .we-member a {   color: var(--we-red);   text-decoration: none; }  @media (max-width: 600px) {   .we<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sununu-and-shaheen-look-to-keep-dynasties-alive-in-new-hampshire\/\" title=\"Sununu and Shaheen look to keep dynasties alive in New Hampshire\">-grid {     grid-template-columns<\/a>: 1fr;     gap: 1rem;   }   .we-meter {     padding: 1.25rem;   }   .we-cta {     padding: 14px;   } } }<\/style>\n<p><script>if (typeof CSSScopeRule == 'undefined') { const style = document.getElementById('mos-5d512306-7d35-4039-99ed-3570b6187334-style'); if (style) { style.textContent = style.textContent.replace(\/^@scope (#mos-5d512306-7d35-4039-99ed-3570b6187334) { \/, '').replace(\/}$\/, '');}}<\/script><\/p>\n<div id=\"mos-5d512306-7d35-4039-99ed-3570b6187334\" style=\"display: contents;\">\n<section class=\"we-meter\" aria-label=\"Washington Examiner subscription meter\">\n<div class=\"we-grid\">\n<div>\n<h2 class=\"we-title\">Stay informed.<span>Stay ahead.<\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"we-copy\">                  Join Washington Examiner for unlimited access to the news, analysis, and commentary that matter most.       <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"we-actions\">       <a class=\"we-cta\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/subscribe\/digital\/\">         <span>See Options<\/span>         <span class=\"we-arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u203a<\/span>       <\/a>       <\/p>\n<p class=\"we-member\">Already a member? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/sign-in\/\">Log in<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The right-wing media figure \u201ctold her audience of millions in multiple podcast episodes that Hild \u2014 a private citizen in the crowd at the event where Kirk was assassinated \u2014 contributed to Kirk\u2019s assassination, had ties to malicious foreign actors, and was connected to a \u2018gothic\u2019 and \u2018communist\u2019 \u2018underground,\u2019 which she associated with the murder, among other abject and damaging falsehoods,\u201d the new lawsuit said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOwens neither cares about the truth nor the harmful effects her lies have on her targets,\u201d Hild\u2019s attorneys wrote. \u201cWhether her lies involve the powerful and famous (like the First Lady of France, whom Owens has repeatedly accused of being a man, leading to a defamation lawsuit in Delaware) or regular, everyday citizens like Hild, Owens\u2019 sole concern is the clicks, likes, and reposts that pad her wallet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Owens did not respond to the <em>Washington Examiner\u2019s<\/em> request for comment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hild\u2019s team described him as a former data scientist and Mormon missionary, living a mostly private life, until he went with friends to watch Kirk speak. He fled and took shelter off campus for several hours after Kirk was shot, the lawsuit said. The media frenzy started after Hild took a walk with a friend days later to process the tragedy, passing by a Utah Valley University stairwell where suspected assassin Tyler Robinson was seen walking.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The friend posted photos of them on social media from the scene without Hild\u2019s consent, according to the lawsuit. The images became fodder for Owens to suggest on her podcast that Hild resembled <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3803227\/fbi-photo-person-of-interest-charlie-kirk-killing\/\">the FBI\u2019s photos<\/a> of the suspect and might be Kirk\u2019s real killer. Owens started this narrative with a Sept. 29, 2025, episode titled, \u201cThey are Lying About Tyler Robinson,\u201d the lawsuit said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Owens posted multiple podcasts lumping in Hild and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of the same possible conspiracy against Kirk, attorneys wrote. Threats, stalking, doxxing, vandalism, and \u201csevere emotional distress\u201d followed for Hild, the complaint alleged.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The podcaster\u2019s theories have also implicated Brian Harpole, the private security leader who was assigned to Kirk and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/after-action-report.pdf\">oversaw<\/a> parts of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4743501\/utah-university-report-security-charlie-kirk-assassination\/\">botched security preparations<\/a> for his UVU event. Kirk\u2019s family said last week that it <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4729208\/kirk-family-lawsuit-utah-university\/\">plans to sue the school<\/a> for failing to prevent the shooting.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4716716\/charlie-kirk-murder-trump-crackdown-radical-left-lunatics\/\"><strong>HOW CHARLIE KIRK\u2019S MURDER DROVE TRUMP\u2019S CRACKDOWN ON \u2018RADICAL-LEFT LUNATICS\u2019<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDespite mountains of evidence pointing toward suspected assassin Tyler Robinson\u2019s guilt, Owens regularly peddles wildly speculative alternate theories, including claims that foreign actors (such as Ukraine, France and Israel), the United States military, the State of Utah, Utah Valley University, Kirk\u2019s former head of security (currently suing Owens for defamation in Tennessee), and even Kirk\u2019s widow Erika participated in Kirk\u2019s murder,\u201d Hild\u2019s complaint said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Owens defended herself against Harpole\u2019s federal lawsuit in an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/gov.uscourts.tnmd_.108994.31.0.pdf\">August motion<\/a>, arguing that her commentary is legally protected opinion, \u201crhetorical hyperbole,\u201d or just asking \u201cquestions.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Witness sues Candace Owens over false claims on Kirk\u2019s death<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1239,"featured_media":2672710,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AP26156627681932.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[36140,9142,86431],"class_list":["post-2672709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-candace-owens","tag-defamation","tag-kirk-theories"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AP26156627681932.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2672709","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1239"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2672709"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2672709\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2672713,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2672709\/revisions\/2672713"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2672710"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2672709"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2672709"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2672709"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}