Erika Kirk, the widow of activist Charlie Kirk, withdrew from a Turning Point USA tour talk with Vice President JD Vance at the University of Georgia, following threats on her life Tuesday night.
Vance and Kirk were set to highlight the talk when, two hours before the event, “some very serious threats in her direction” arose, according to Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet, who stepped in for Kirk.
“I know that she did get some threats,” Vance told an audience of University of Georgia students. “I was a little worried that we were going to have to cancel the event because Erika was not going to come, and she was very worried about it.”
While there was talk of canceling the Athens, Georgia, event altogether, Vance spoke with his Secret Service detail and decided to proceed.
Vance told Kirk to “do what she needs to do for her and her family.” Kirk lost her husband, Turning Point USA cofounder Charlie Kirk, last September when he was assassinated in a shooting at Utah Valley University while speaking to students.
The vice president defended Erika Kirk’s absence following backlash against the TPUSA CEO and chairwoman.
FAITH, FREE SPEECH, AND FIRE: KIRK AND LEAVITT KICK OFF TPUSA COLLEGE TOUR
“The people telling you that Erika wasn’t grieving her husband are full of s***, and we need to be honest,” Vance said. “But if your instinct is to go after a young mother because she’s grieving in a way that you find wrong, well, why don’t you stay in your lane and mind your own business?”
The Charlie Kirk assassination case against accused gunman Tyler Robinson is set to have its next hearing on May 18, where prosecutors intend to call Robinson’s parents and his roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs, to testify at the preliminary hearing.
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