‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ pulled off air ‘indefinitely’; FBI director defends investigation

Popular late-night show Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been taken off the air in response to comments made by its host about Charlie Kirk’s killing, multiple media outlets report.

In his opening monologue on Monday’s show, Kimmel accused the “MAGA gang” of trying to characterize the alleged shooter “as anything other than one of them.”

ABC reportedly chose to remove the show from its schedule “indefinitely” after Nexstar Media, which owns many local TV stations throughout the United States, threatened to preempt it from airing on any of its ABC affiliates.

The decision comes a day after 22-year-old Tyler Robinson was formally charged with murder in the death of the 31-year-old conservative activist.

Robinson was charged with aggravated murder, discharge of a weapon causing serious bodily harm, obstruction of justice and witness tampering. He briefly appeared in a virtual court hearing on Tuesday afternoon, and his next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 29.

Speaking at a press conference earlier on Tuesday, Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said he plans to pursue the death penalty against Robinson. “I do not take this decision lightly, and it is a decision I have made independently as county attorney, based solely on the available evidence and circumstances in nature of the crime,” Gray said. “Because we are seeking the death penalty, the defendant will continue to be held without bail in the Utah County Jail.”

Robinson is accused of firing a single shot from a rifle that killed Kirk while he was speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.

According to Gray, Robinson’s mother saw photos of the suspect that were released by the FBI and spoke to her husband about how the suspect looked like their son. Robinson turned himself in to the police in Washington County, Utah, the day after the shooting.

New details about the process that led to Robinson’s surrender were shared by Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby, who told reporters on Wednesday that Robinson’s fear of being shot by police played a role in his decision to turn himself in.

Meanwhile, FBI Director Kash Patel — facing criticism for the confusion that ensued during the manhunt for the gunman — testified before Congress for the second straight day on Wednesday. Patel defended his actions to lawmakers and provided some new information about the ongoing investigation.