Lance Twiggs, the transgender partner of Tyler Robinson—who stands accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk—has been removed from FBI protection, according to a law enforcement source. The decision to withdraw the security detail comes weeks after the high-profile shooting that rocked Utah Valley University and captured national attention, marking a significant shift in the federal government's approach to peripheral figures in this politically charged case.
The 22-year-old Twiggs, who has not been charged with any crime related to the incident, previously received federal protection due to credible threats against his safety following the September 10 attack. However, authorities have remained conspicuously silent about the specific reasons for terminating the security measures, leaving questions about the timing and risk assessment that guided this decision. The lack of transparency has fueled speculation about whether the move indicates a change in investigative focus or simply a reallocation of federal resources to higher-priority threats.
Background and Personal Struggles
Family members describe Twiggs as someone who faced numerous personal challenges during his transition from male to female. According to a relative who spoke with Fox News Digital, Twiggs' journey included significant struggles with substance abuse and digital addiction that complicated his personal development and strained family relationships.
"The real reason he was acting out was because he was using drugs and alcohol, and was addicted to gaming," the relative explained, identifying these issues as the root cause of his behavioral problems rather than his gender identity. The family member noted that Twiggs often projected an image of reform while continuing to battle these underlying issues in private, creating a disconnect between his public presentation and private reality.
"He had always tried to put on the act that he had changed," the relative added, suggesting a pattern of presenting a reformed persona to the world despite ongoing internal difficulties. This disconnect between appearance and reality reportedly created tension within his family and may have contributed to his eventual estrangement from them.
Twiggs' family conflicts escalated to a breaking point when his father expelled him from their home at age 18. Following his ejection, he temporarily resided with his grandparents before eventually securing his own residence in a townhome in St. George, Utah. This move represented an attempt at independence, though the relative indicated that his personal struggles followed him to his new living situation and continued to affect his daily life and decision-making.
Living Arrangements and Relationship with Robinson
Initially, Twiggs shared the St. George residence with several college roommates while maintaining steady employment and paying his full share of rent. "He was maintaining a job and able to pay rent, and was technically an adult," the relative confirmed, acknowledging his steps toward self-sufficiency and adult responsibility.
As time passed, the other roommates gradually moved out, creating a vacancy that would soon be filled by Tyler Robinson. The two developed a romantic relationship and cohabited until Robinson's dramatic arrest for the alleged assassination. The timeline of their relationship and how it may have intersected with the planning of the crime remains under investigation, with authorities examining their communications for clues about motive and premeditation.
The relative's account suggests that Twiggs was attempting to build a stable life before Robinson entered the picture, making his current situation all the more tragic. His efforts to maintain employment and housing demonstrate a desire for normalcy that has been shattered by the events of September 10. The relationship between the two young adults appears to have developed quickly, with Robinson moving in after other roommates departed.
The Assassination Case
Robinson is accused of killing Charlie Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10, 2025. The shooting sent shockwaves through the political community and raised serious questions about security protocols at public events featuring controversial figures.
Kirk, a prominent conservative commentator and founder of Turning Point USA, was greeting supporters when the attack occurred. The brazen nature of the assassination in a public university setting amplified the sense of crisis and led to immediate calls for enhanced security measures at political gatherings across the country.
Court documents suggest that Robinson exchanged text messages with Twiggs around the time of the incident, though the content of those messages remains part of the ongoing legal proceedings and has not been fully disclosed to the public. These communications have become a focal point for both prosecution and defense strategies, with each side offering different interpretations of their meaning and significance.
FBI Protection and Cooperation
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, authorities faced the challenge of locating Twiggs to bring him in for questioning. Once contacted, he reportedly cooperated with investigators, providing information that likely helped piece together Robinson's movements and state of mind in the days and hours leading up to the attack.
Recognizing the potential danger to Twiggs and his family members, the FBI provided a security detail in the weeks following the attack. The threats presumably stemmed from the high-profile nature of the case and the political tensions surrounding Kirk's activism. In today's polarized climate, individuals even peripherally connected to such crimes can become targets of vigilante justice or harassment from those seeking revenge or answers.
However, the recent decision to end protection indicates that authorities now assess the risk level differently. This could mean that the immediate danger has subsided, that the investigation has progressed past a critical phase, or simply that resources are being reallocated based on current threat assessments. The FBI has not publicly commented on the rationale behind this change, maintaining its standard practice of not discussing security details or ongoing threat evaluations.
Legal Maneuvering in Robinson's Case
Meanwhile, Robinson's legal team has been actively working to disqualify prosecutors from the case, creating another layer of complexity in the already intricate proceedings. The defense argues that the prosecution's interpretation of text messages between Robinson and Twiggs shows confusion rather than bias, attempting to rebut claims of conflict of interest and prejudice.
Prosecutors maintain that their reading of the communications is appropriate and have responded to the defense's motion. The legal back-and-forth highlights the complexity of building a case in such a politically charged atmosphere, where every piece of evidence is subject to intense scrutiny and multiple interpretations from both sides.
Broader Implications and Public Interest
The case has drawn significant media attention, with Charlie Kirk's widow advocating for news cameras to remain in the courtroom during the trial. The request underscores the public interest in seeing justice served transparently and the desire for accountability in a case that has political ramifications beyond Utah.
For Twiggs, the end of FBI protection marks a return to normalcy, albeit one shadowed by his connection to one of the most notorious crimes in recent Utah history. While he has not been implicated in the assassination itself, his relationship with Robinson and his presence in the periphery of the case continue to generate interest from media and the public.
The relative who provided insight into Twiggs' life emphasized that his struggles with addiction and identity were ongoing challenges that predated his relationship with Robinson. These underlying issues may have made him vulnerable to manipulation or simply represent a young adult grappling with multiple complex issues simultaneously.
Whether Twiggs will continue to cooperate with authorities as the case progresses remains to be seen. His testimony could prove crucial in establishing motive, premeditation, or Robinson's state of mind. For now, he must navigate life without the federal security blanket that shielded him in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy.
The case serves as a stark reminder of how acts of political violence create ripple effects that extend far beyond the immediate victims, touching the lives of family members, associates, and even peripheral figures who find themselves thrust into the spotlight through no fault of their own. As the legal process unfolds, the focus will remain primarily on Robinson, but the shadow cast by the crime will continue to affect those in his orbit for years to come.