Alleged Kirk killer had 'leftist' beliefs, Utah governor says

The man arrested over conservative influencer Charlie Kirk's assassination was romantically involved with a transgender roommate and had "leftist ideology", Utah's governor said Sunday, confirming details likely to inflame the contentious national debate over the killing.

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“Yes I can confirm that,” Governor Spencer Cox told CNN's State of the Union talk show when asked about suspect Tyler Robinson’s reported relationship with a trans partner.

“The roommate was a romantic partner, a male transitioning to a female,” Mr Cox said.

“This partner has been incredibly cooperative, had no idea that this was happening, and is working with investigators right now,” he added.

Mr Cox, who said 22-year-old Robinson is expected to be formally charged today, went on to stress it was not yet clear whether the partner's transitioning was part of the alleged shooter's mindset to kill Kirk, a close ally of US President Donald Trump.

“Again, all of these things — we're trying to figure out,” he said.

Mr Cox, who has earned plaudits for urging Americans to lower the toxic political temperature, made the rounds of US networks Sunday and told NBC talk show Meet the Press that investigators believed Mr Robinson had embraced leftist beliefs.

“There clearly was a leftist ideology with this — with this assassin,” Mr Cox said.