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The leaders of Utah County are currently facing rising expenses, heightened national media coverage, and public dissatisfaction as they are compelled to finance the defense attorneys for Tyler Robinson. Robinson stands accused of the murder of Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA.
Amelia Powers Gardner, one of the three elected county commissioners who manage policy, operations, and financial decisions, disclosed that Utah County has already allocated “just over a quarter of a million dollars” towards the case. This amount is anticipated to double by the end of the year and could potentially reach an estimated $5 million within the next 18 months.
“The Constitution grants us the right to a competent defense,” stated Powers Gardner. “For us to truly believe in justice, it is crucial that it remains fair and impartial.” She acknowledged the frustration among citizens who are concerned about their taxes funding Robinson’s defense but stressed the constitutional obligation and foresight in ensuring a just trial, particularly in a case that could involve the death penalty.
Alongside addressing financial concerns, Powers Gardner highlighted her responsibility in fostering community unity following the tragic event that has impacted residents, regardless of their political views.
The case has drawn significant attention, with booking photos of Tyler Robinson, 22, released to the public. Robinson is the suspect in the high-profile murder case that has left a deep imprint on the Utah community. As the trial progresses, the county continues to weigh its duties against the backdrop of public scrutiny and a high-stakes legal battle.
Powers Gardner said part of her role is keeping the community united after a tragedy that affected residents across political lines.
“My job is also to be a leader for my community, and that’s what I have focused on,” she said. “You have to keep in mind, not everybody who was traumatized that day was a Charlie Kirk supporter. There were hundreds of people there that were protesting at that event and were just as traumatized that they saw a father and husband murdered.”
“Our community had a horrific event take place, and that horrific event has affected people across party and ideological lines. Our job in local government is not to play politics, but to take care of all of our citizens — the ones that voted for me and the ones that didn’t. They’re still my constituents, and I work hard for them.”
The judge deemed Robinson eligible for public defense, requiring the county to hire a death-penalty-certified team after all local attorneys declined the county’s standard contract.
“Because it is Charlie Kirk, we sent out that standard contract and got zero attorneys who were willing to take the case for our standard contract,” Powers Gardner said. “It’s a very emotionally and politically charged case. And because of that, none of our usual defense attorneys were willing to take the case.”
She added that due to this being a “very high profile case,” most of their usual contracts were not valid.
Charlie Kirk speaks at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah, prior to his assassination. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)
“That is very frustrating, but keep in mind that if there’s any way that the defense in the future could claim that we scrimped or saved or undercut their ability to have a competent defense, that means appeals. And appeals mean more money and more time. It’s actually the most prudent use of taxpayer dollars to give Tyler Robinson a competent defense the first time.”
Powers Gardner said the county tried joining Utah’s Aggravated Murder Defense Fund in 2024, a pool designed to offset defense costs in capital cases, but was denied. At the time of the killing, Powers Gardner said the county’s reserve for aggravated-murder cases had just $31 left.
Powers Gardner estimated the impact at about $5 per taxpayer spread over the course of the case, which she estimated could be roughly two years.
Attorney Kathryn Nester and her security guard outside of Utah County District Court in Provo, Utah on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. Nester is representing Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the assassination of Charlie Kirk. (Alec Thornock for Fox News Digital)
Beyond legal costs, Powers Gardner detailed new security and operational burdens.
“Just housing Tyler Robinson in our jail is very expensive… He will be transferred using armored vehicles, and we will have to clear buildings around the courthouse, and we will have to cover that because there have been threats,” she said.
The county has implemented active-shooter training for the first time and continues to absorb overtime costs.
“In six weeks, we’ve used $250,000 on this,” she said. “And we haven’t even started appearing in court yet.”
Powers Gardner credited Gov. Spencer Cox for being “incredibly supportive,” noting that he was personally engaged and communicative in the days following the shooting.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox speaks at a news conference regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
Robinson faces a top charge of aggravated murder, which carries a potential death penalty.
Prosecutors allege Robinson used his grandfather’s Mauser .30-06 rifle to climb onto a campus rooftop and shoot Kirk once in the neck while Kirk was speaking at a Utah Valley University campus event on Sept. 10.
Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.
