Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet said Monday that he provided former National Counterterrorism Center official Joe Kent with private messages from the late activist Charlie Kirk, which later surfaced publicly through podcaster Candace Owens. The disclosure has raised questions about how the messages were leaked.

Kolvet made the remarks during an appearance on “The Charlie Kirk Show,” explaining that he shared the group chat messages in the immediate aftermath of Kirk’s death as part of an effort to ensure relevant individuals had access to available information. He said the decision was made in good faith and without intent to make the messages public.

While Kolvet confirmed that Kent received the messages, he stopped short of directly accusing him of leaking them. He said he could not definitively determine how the messages were ultimately released but noted that Kent had suggested making them public, a recommendation Kolvet declined due to concerns about privacy and potential harm to others involved in the conversation.

The messages were later published by Candace Owens, prompting widespread attention and speculation. Some interpretations of the texts contributed to theories about the circumstances surrounding Kirk’s death, though Kolvet and others associated with the show rejected those claims.

Kolvet described the public release of the messages as a serious breach of trust, emphasizing that all known information had been shared internally in an effort to handle the situation responsibly. He suggested the possibility that the material may have been circulated beyond its intended recipients before becoming public.

Additional scrutiny has focused on Kent, who has previously faced allegations of improperly sharing sensitive information. Reports indicate the FBI has opened an investigation into those claims.

Kent denied any wrongdoing during a recent appearance on “The Megyn Kelly Show,” stating that he did not leak the messages and expressing confidence that the facts would ultimately support his position.

The situation continues to draw attention within conservative circles as questions remain about how the private communications became public.