Army Colonel Scott Stephens has been suspended following his public comments regarding the assassination of conservative activist and TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk.
Kirk was fatally shot at an event at Utah Valley University, with graphic footage of the incident circulating on social media. Colonel Stephens controversially stated that Kirk deserved this fate.
In a social media post, Stephens remarked, “The death of Charlie Kirk in Utah was tragic. However, we can take comfort in the fact that Charlie was doing what he loved best – spreading messages of hate, racism, homophobia, misogyny and transphobia on college campuses. It also allows us to see who in our lives support those views. I would offer empathy, but Charlie hated empathy. As we have been told in the wake of so many other tragedies, we have to move on. We can’t make this political.”
A user on Facebook responded, “He did not deserve to be assassinated. What happened to freedom of speech? It isn’t political. It’s evil.” To which Stephens replied, “[Charlie] spent years inciting political violence to die the victim of it. Tragic, for sure. Certainly aren’t going to argue that. But everyone shouldn’t be shocked when the leopards actually eat your face.”
In another statement, Stephens suggested that Kirk’s family was undeserving of support, stating, “Colonel Stephens believes Charlie Kirk’s beautiful Christian wife, Erika, deserves to be a widow. Stephens believes Kirk’s two young babies deserve to be fatherless.”
Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the agency is monitoring military personnel and civilians who celebrate or make light of the assassination of fellow Americans. “The Department of War has zero tolerance for it,” said spokesman Sean Parnell.
Following the backlash, Stephens was suspended after his comments were reported to the Department of War.
BREAKING: Army Colonel Scott Stephens has been suspended following vile comments mocking Charlie’s assassination.
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