Secret Service’s massive payment to secure Charlie Kirk memorial surfaces: Inside the reported security costs

Charlie Kirk's funeral which was held on September 21 following his assassination two weeks earlier, involved the Secret Service allegedly paying a huge amount of money to secure the event. According to TMZ, the funeral event, which was held at the State Farm Stadium in Gendale, Arizona, saw high security measures taken by ARCUS Group LLC, who were hired by the Secret Service to help secure the venue for a sum of more than $2 million.

According to USA Today, Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated last month on September 10, was touring different colleges when the incident took place. He was shot while speaking at the Utah Valley University, following which he was rushed to the nearest hospital but later pronounced dead. A manhunt was launched by the FBI, during which they received more than 7000 tips regarding the shooting. Just two days later, on September 12, Tyler Robinson was arrested in connection to the murder.

More about the Secret Service hiring a third-party company to help secure Charlie Kirk's funeral

Over two weeks later, following Charlie Kirk's death, a public funeral was organized by Turning Point USA, the conservative organization founded by Kirk and his mentor, Bill Montgomery, in 2012. The event, which was announced on September 14 by Turning Point USA, was attended by thousands of people. A part of their post on X (formerly Twitter) read:

"Join us in celebrating the remarkable life and enduring legacy of Charlie Kirk, an American legend."

According to TMZ, anticipating a high attendence, the Secret Service allegedly hired ARCUS Group LLC for a huge sum of approximately $2.6 million to help install high-security measures at the venue. The funeral was attended by high-profile politicians, many of whom spoke at the event.

According to their own website, ARCUS Group LLC has provided security measures for different political events, including the 2021 Presidential inauguration. A part of their bio on their website reads:

"ARCUS Group LLC, in collaboration with our esteemed partners, is a highly respected company specializing in temporary security perimeters. With our exceptional expertise in erecting temporary structures worldwide, we possess the capability to offer a comprehensive range of resources to aid in high profile situations. At ARCUS, we are committed to ensuring that communities have access to the support they need to get back on their feet in the aftermath of a disaster. We have even closed down large cities and built small towns to aid in post-disaster response and recovery."

According to reports, back in September, a Secret Service employee named Anthony Pough was placed on leave following his comments stating that Charlie Kirk's death was a result of karma, adding that he spread "hate and racism on his show."

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