Prosecutors are pressing a judge to reject Tyler Robinson’s effort to remove a prosecutor from his case, asserting there is no conflict of interest. Robinson stands accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk.

In a comprehensive 33-page document, initially sealed but now available in a redacted version, the state contends that the deputy prosecutor involved in Robinson’s case faces no personal conflict. This is despite the fact that the prosecutor’s 18-year-old child was present in the audience during the fatal incident at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025.

The prosecutors argue that the teenager, a student at UVU, was merely one of the “thousands of other witnesses” and did not possess any direct knowledge of the murder. The teen neither witnessed the shooting nor saw any weapon.

The document also includes a series of text messages between the prosecutor and his child sent shortly after the event, which the prosecutors claim further demonstrate the lack of direct involvement or awareness of the crime.

Charlie Kirk was attending Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah, as part of his “American Comeback Tour.” During this event, Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was tragically shot in the neck and killed. (Photo by Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)

In the messages, the teen initially texts, “SOMEONE GOT SHOT,” and reassures family members, “I’m okay, everyone is going inside.” Only later, after hearing information from others, does the teenager text, “CHARLIE GOT SHOT,” followed by messages relaying what “people were saying” about where Kirk was hit and where the shooter may have been positioned.

Prosecutors argue the texts reflect confusion and secondhand information — not emotional trauma or direct involvement that could improperly influence prosecutorial decision-making.

Read the filing here:

The filing further details that the teen was roughly 85 feet away, had no line of sight to the shooter due to buildings blocking the view, and fled the area after hearing what sounded like a loud “pop.”

The crowd reacts after Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, is shot at Utah Valley University Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP)

In a sworn affidavit, the teen described being scared in the moment but suffered no lasting trauma, required no counseling and quickly returned to normal school and work activities.

Robinson’s motion also points to the prosecution’s decision to seek the death penalty on the same day charges were filed, arguing it reflects bias or a rush to judgment.

Prosecutors reject that claim, saying the decision was based on the strength of the evidence, Utah law and a desire to curb speculation and misinformation in a case that immediately drew national and international attention.

Charlie Kirk speaks before he is assassinated during Turning Point’s visit to Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah on Sept. 10, 2025. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP)

Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot while answering a question during the outdoor forum attended by roughly 3,000 people. Robinson is charged with aggravated murder and faces the possibility of the death penalty if convicted.

Defense attorneys argue that while the trauma of the shooting is undeniable, it makes prosecutorial neutrality even more essential — not less. They contend the presence of a prosecutor’s family member at the event creates an unacceptable risk that decisions could be influenced by emotion rather than evidence.

A judge is scheduled to hear arguments on the motion Friday, Jan. 16. If the court grants Robinson’s request, the entire Utah County Attorney’s Office could be removed from the case, forcing the appointment of a special prosecutor and potentially delaying trial proceedings — including the state’s pursuit of the death penalty.

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.