The Charlie Kirk murder suspect, Tyler Robinson, has appeared in court for the first time
Robinson, 22, appeared remotely at the court in Utah - he faces seven charges, including aggravated murder and witness tampering
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty - Robinson, who was wearing a vest designed to stop self-harm, did not enter a plea to any of the charges
Earlier, a Utah attorney revealed messages Robinson sent to his roommate - read them here and here
Robinson left a note for the transgender roommate - who he was in a relationship with - saying he had the "opportunity to take Kirk out"
In further messages, Robinson said: "I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age" - it is also alleged he used his grandfather's rifle
Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative activist, was shot dead on Wednesday - prosecutors allege he was targeted because of his "political expression"
Watch: Utah County Attorney to seek death penalty against Tyler Robinson
As reported, Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray says prosecutors will seek the death penalty.
"I do not take this decision lightly," Gray says.
Robinson will continue to be held without bail in the county jail, Gray says.
Tyler Robinson, 22, is being charged with:
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray says he will seek the death penalty.
The charges include aggravated murder - we'll have more detail in our next post.
Image source, Utah County GovernmentThe news conference has just begun - remember, you can Watch live at the top of this page.
BBC Verify examines Tyler Robinson's social media accounts
Tyler Robinson is a 22-year-old Utah from Utah, with no previous convictions or history of violent offences, according to a report filed in Utah's state court.
He was taken into custody after a 33-hour manhunt, which police say ended when his father and a pastor persuaded him to surrender.
But since his arrest, authorities say he has not co-operated with them, and not confessed to the killing.
Investigators say Robinson was immersed in online culture, pointing to inscriptions on shell casings linked to the case which apparently reference online trolling humour.
Public records seen by the BBC suggest Robinson previously registered as an unaffiliated, or nonpartisan, voter in Utah. His parents are registered Republicans, according to state records.
The family is Mormon and active in the local church.
Utah's governor, Spencer Cox, told several Sunday morning news shows that Robinson had a partner, who did not know about the shooting and has been "incredibly co-operative". They are currently "transitioning from male to female", Cox said, but told CNN that authorities do not yet know if that is relevant to the investigation.
For context - Charlie Kirk was highly critical of gay and transgender rights and was answering a question about transgender issues and mass shootings when he was killed.
According to a Utah County Sheriff inmate booking sheet obtained by the BBC, Robinson is expected to be charged with the following:
Aggravated murder
This is the most serious charge and could carry the death penalty under Utah law.
Obstruction of justice
This relates to actions Robinson may have taken to evade capture or conceal evidence. It carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Felony discharge of firearm
This charge reflects the act of firing a weapon in a manner that resulted in Kirk’s death. It carries a potential sentence of five years to life in prison.
Kayla Epstein
Reporting from Provo, Utah
Image source, Jonathan Csapo/BBCMedia waits for a news conference with Utah County Attorney and other officials
Dozens of journalists from across the US and around the world are waiting for the Utah County Attorney's Office and other law enforcement to formally announce charges against Tyler Robinson, their suspect in Charlie Kirk’s killing.
The charges he could face are serious and carry heavy penalties.
Prosecutors have indicated they could bring a charge of aggravated murder, which carries the possibility of the death penalty if the accused is convicted at trial.
Other possible penalties for people found guilty of this crime include life in prison without the possibility of parole, or 25 years to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
Image source, Getty ImagesHere’s what’s been happening at Congress today:
The White House has sent National Guard troops on to the streets of Washington DC. On Monday, it also announced the deployment of guardsmen to Memphis.
Donald Trump has hinted that other cities could also see troops alongside local law enforcement - an almost unprecedented move outside times of serious civil unrest.
In response to a question by Florida Republican Ashley Moody, Kash Patel listed a number of American cities that might also be on the deployment list.
"We did it in DC. We're doing it Memphis. We're going to Chicago, Miami, St Louis - so many other cities across the country."
It's unclear whether there are actual plans to send troops into those cities, or what stage they are at. The ultimate decision will be made not by the FBI director, but by President Trump.
With this, the hearing has come to a close.
We're expecting the news conference about the suspect in Charlie Kirk's assassination in 15 minutes, which you can Watch live here. Stay with us.
Senate hearing descends into shouting match between Adam Schiff and Kash Patel
FBI Director Kash Patel and Democratic Senator Adam Schiff from California have just wrapped up a heated argument on the Senate floor, which ended with Patel calling Schiff a "buffoon".
During the fiery exchange, Schiff repeatedly asks Patel if he has taken retributive action against any FBI employees for their role in investigating the 6 January 2021 Capitol riots. Patel denies.
Schiff also presses Patel on files related to disgraced financier and paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and the transfer of his associate Ghislaine Maxwell to a minimum-security prison in Texas.
"You're setting up a trap so you can have a media narrative, and I'm not giving it to you," Patel says to Schiff, before accusing the senator of being a liar.
"You are the biggest fraud to sit on the United States Senate," Patel yells into the microphone as Schiff talks over him. "You are a political buffoon at best."
The back-and-forth is interrupted by committee chair Grassley banging the gavel.
"Both of you be quiet," he yells back.
Image source, Getty ImagesDemocratic Senator Adam Schiff and Kash Patel have been having a heated back-and-forth over firings at the FBI. Schiff asks whether Patel has removed anyone from the agency as "political retribution" for being assigned to cases investigating President Donald Trump before his return to office.
Patel continues to say that no one has been fired from the FBI for any reason other than "justified cause".
These questions, which were also addressed earlier in this hearing, have come after a lawsuit filed last week.
Three former FBI agents sued FBI Director Kash Patel and US Attorney General Pam Bondi, saying the officials fired them to appease President Donald Trump.
According to the lawsuit, Patel allegedly told staff he "had to fire" those individuals because "his ability to keep his own job depended on the removal of the agents who worked on cases involving the president".
The lawsuit was filed by former FBI acting director Brian Driscoll, Steven Jensen, former assistant director in charge of the Washington field office, and Spencer Evans, former special agent in charge of the Las Vegas field office.
The suit, filed in federal court in Washington DC on Wednesday, asked for the three men to be reinstated to their jobs with back pay.
Democratic Senator Peter Welch is now asking Patel about his use of an FBI private jet.
The senator's staff held up giant photos of Patel at various sporting events, including a hockey game in New York City and a UFC fight in Las Vegas with Mel Gibson.
"I live in Las Vegas, I'm allowed to go home," Patel says. "Are you telling me I can't go home?"
Welch asks Patel if he knows how much the private jet trips cost the taxpayer - Patel says he's "mandated" by Congress to use private jets.
Image source, ReutersPeter Welch, a Democratic senator from Vermont, is quizzing Patel about his early declaration that "the subject" in the shooting of Charlie Kirk was in custody.
"Why did you make that statement?" Welch asks.
"What we had at the time was a subject in custody in relation to this investigation," Patel responds. "I put that information out.
"Could I have been more careful ... sure, in the heat of the moment. I was doing the best I could."
The FBI director says he later corrected himself. But when Welch follows up, Patel denies his tweet was a "mistake".
The senator doesn't seem convinced, but moves on to other topics, including Patel's management of FBI personnel, and his use of an FBI private jet to attend sporting events.
Kayla Epstein
Reporting from Provo, Utah
Image source, Kayla Epstein / BBCMedia waits outside the Utah courthouse
Good morning from Provo, Utah, where prosecutors expect to unveil formal charges against Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old Utah resident accused of killing Charlie Kirk.
Press have assembled outside the Utah County Health and Justice Building, where authorities will hold a news conference at 12:00 Mountain Time - that's 14:00 ET, 19:00 BST.
Robinson was arrested on suspicion of the crimes of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, and obstruction of justice.
The Utah County Attorney has said he will likely file the charges formally today. Media has lined up outside the Health and Justice building to await the announcement.
Later today, Robinson will appear virtually for his first court hearing.
By Lucy Gilder & Shayan Sardarizadeh, BBC Verify
A little earlier in the Congress hearing, Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar cited a number of studies which she said showed that "the left" were not driving political violence in the US.
In the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s shooting, President Trump and members of his administration have suggested that the majority of political violence in America comes from left-wing groups and individuals.
But studies on political violence, which BBC Verify has been reviewing, do not reach this conclusion.
As there is no consistent or universal definition of "right" or "left" ideology, it’s very difficult to measure trends in political violence.
It's also hard to judge whether a perpetrator’s stated motivation is the same as their actual motivation for carrying out attacks.
There is no government database on political violence in the US.
Instead, we looked at five independent studies from think tanks (including the Cato Institute, whose research Klobuchar cited) and peer-reviewed journals to compare the number of violent events by perpetrators who were assigned left- and right-wing ideologies by researchers.
These events include plots, attacks, and murders and span several decades.
All of these studies suggest that there have been more cases of political violence in the US committed by people assigned a right-wing ideology than a left-wing one.
But for the reasons stated above, caution should be taken when drawing conclusions from these findings.
Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, is now questioning Patel about the investigation into Charlie Kirk's death.
Cruz asks Patel if Robinson's roommate "was a transgender man who was transitioning to be female, and it's also been reported they may have been been romantic partners".
Patel confirms that is accurate.
Cruz then asks about "transgender" chat rooms that may have had knowledge about the murder - Patel says they are still investigating.
Patel says an investigation is being conducted into the meaning behind the messages written on the bullets, and the political ideologies of any online chat groups.
'I'm not afraid of you!': Cory Booker clashes with Kash Patel at hearing
We now have fireworks, with Democrat Senator Cory Booker, Kash Patel and Republican Chairman Chuck Grassley all yelling over each other, the gavel banging heavily.
It starts with Booker asking questions about firings and retirements within the FBI, and about using federal agents to carry out basic neighbourhood law enforcement.
Booker then tells Patel: "I believe you are failing as a leader."
"I think this might be your last oversight hearing," Booker adds. "Donald Trump has shown us...he is not loyal to people like you. He will cut you loose."
"I don't think you're long for your job," Booker says in summation. "I pray for you that you can step up and defend your oath."
As Patel responds, Booker interjects, attacking Patel's social media posts.
Patel yells: "My time, my time", to which Booker responds: "I am not afraid of you!"
Once the verbal smoke clears, Patel defends his performance with a long list of FBI actions under his watch.
Sakshi Venkatraman
US reporter
Image source, EPAWe are now more than three hours into FBI Director Kash Patel's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Here's a recap:
On the Charlie Kirk shooting
Patel said the suspected shooter Tyler Robinson may not have acted alone.
More than 20 people in Robinson's Discord chat are being questioned, he said, after Robinson reportedly identified himself as the shooter in the chat.
The FBI director has largely skirted questions about his handling of information on the day of Kirk's shooting. (Remember: Patel originally tweeted that "the subject" was in custody, and then 90 minutes later said he was released).
Moments ago, answering a question from Senator Ted Cruz, Patel said it was accurate that Robinson's roommate was a "transgender man transitioning to female", and they were in a relationship.
We'll have more that soon.
On Jeffrey Epstein
Late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein was not a source for the FBI, Patel told one senator.
On firings at the FBI
Some Democratic senators are pushing Patel on recent firings at the FBI, claiming they were politically-motivated, and done at the direction of the White House.
Patel has repeatedly denied that any of the firings were politically motivated.
Cory Booker bust-up
Patel has just been involved in a shouting match with Democratic Senator Cory Booker - we'll have more on that in our next post.
In one of the spikiest exchanges so far, Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, grills Patel on the alleged politicisation of the FBI.
"You lied to us," the senator says, saying Patel committed at his confirmation hearing not to be political as FBI Director.
Blumenthal claims there is mounting evidence there have been retaliatory firings at the FBI, orchestrated by the White House.
Patel says he "completely disagrees" with Blumenthal's characterisation, and that he does not take allegations of lying lightly.
But the senator doesn't back down - and goes on to ask Patel if anyone from the Trump administration has spoken to him about staffing decisions.
"I make the decisions," Patel says, denying there is White House influence on specific firings.
But Blumenthal presses further - Patel says the White House weighs in on the budget and where personnel are needed, but that terminations are his own decision.
Republican Senator John Kennedy asks if suspected Kirk killer, Tyler Robinson, acted alone.
Patel says investigators are interrogating and talking to a number of people. He refers to those in the Discord chat we mentioned earlier - the chat in which Robinson appeared to admit to the killing.
Kennedy then asks if it's possible that other people were involved. Patel answers: "Yes, sir."
Image source, Reuters