Andrew Kolvet Suggests Joe Kent May Have Leaked Charlie Kirk’s Private Messages To Candace Owens

Turning Point USA (TPUSA) spokesman Andrew Kolvet asserted on Monday that he sent former National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) Director Joe Kent private messages from slain TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk, which podcaster Candace Owens later published.

Owens, in October, shared messages from Kirk that indicated he was frustrated with Jewish donors and the pro-Israel cause shortly before his Sept. 10 assassination. Kolvet confirmed on “The Charlie Kirk Show” that he sent the contents of the group chat with Kirk to Kent, although he did not claim that the former NCTC director was definitely behind the leak to Owens.

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“[I]n the immediate aftermath, I did provide the group chat to Joe Kent. We don’t throw around accusations recklessly here … We think that’s keeping in the spirit of Charlie’s spirit and the way we choose to do things is we try and be responsible,” Kolvet said. “So yes, in a spirit of looking at every lead, turning over every stone, we wanted everybody that needed to know to know anything that we knew.”

“The Charlie Kirk Show” producer Blake Neff noted that the text messages launched a major conspiracy theory that Israel or Jewish people orchestrated Kirk’s assassination. Both Kolvet and Neff clarified that they did not believe the theory.

“[B]ehind the scenes we have given everything we know to give, every single piece of information,” Kolvet said. “This was one of them. I was told I could trust Joe Kent. I provided the screen grabs to Joe Kent. And I don’t know what happened to them at that point. I just want to make that very clear.”

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Kolvet said that Kent subsequently advocated for him to publicize the text messages. He said he decided not to because they were private and could hurt innocent individuals in the group chat.

“But then fast forward another week or two, and they were made public. So that’s what I know, is that Joe suggested that they be made public. I declined. Then they were made public,” he said. “Can I 100% categorically say that he leaked them? No. But those are the facts. Maybe somebody on his team. Maybe they got passed around. Maybe somebody else leaked them. But those are the facts of the matter, and that’s what I know.”

Neff added that Kent had been accused of leaking classified information to unauthorized individuals. The FBI reportedly opened an investigation into Kent over the alleged leaks.

Kolvet asserted the leak of Kirk’s messages was “an egregious breach.”

“Just lost another huge Jewish donor. $2 million a year because we won’t cancel Tucker[.] I’m thinking about inviting Candace,” one of Kirk’s messages read, referring to Daily Caller News Foundation co-founder Tucker Carlson and Owens.

“Jewish donors play into all the stereotypes. I cannot and will not be bullied like this,” he added, saying it left him “no choice but to leave the pro Israel cause.”

Kent maintained during a Friday appearance on “The Megyn Kelly Show” that he committed no wrongdoing.

“As for the leak allegations, I’m not concerned because I know I did nothing wrong,” Kent said. “Of course, I am concerned because we’ve all seen the FBI and the full way the government comes down on individuals who speak out. So that has been a little concerning, but I know the truth and the facts are on my side.”