Fact Check: Was Erika Kirk arrested after grooming allegations by Candace Owens?

WASHINGTON, DC: After conservative activist Candace Owens raised grooming allegations against Erika Kirk involving a 15-year-old, a claim began circulating on social media platforms that the widow of Charlie Kirk was arrested in connection with the allegation. The claim has sparked speculation about the rumor. Let us fact-check it.

Claim: Erika Kirk arrested in connection to grooming allegation

The claim surfaced in the past few days when social media posts and a YouTube video claimed that Erika Kirk was arrested while trying to flee to Israel in connection with the allegation raised by Candace Owens, linking Erika's name to an alleged grooming message from 2014 involving a 15-year-old.  

The grooming claim first appeared through screenshots shared on the social platform X. The posts suggested that Erika Kirk exchanged messages in 2014 with an account described online as youth-coded.

The claim quickly spread on social media, with many appearing to believe the claim while others expressed skepticism.

Fact Check: Erika Kirk has not been charged, questioned, or arrested

However, there is no evidence that Erika been arrested nor is she under investigation for the viral grooming claim. 

Currently, there is no public record in the United States linking her to any criminal case. There are also no court filings, police statements, or federal records confirming an arrest. 

A search on Google about the arrest produced no results supporting the claim. Also, no credible media outlets have reported on the claim, which, if true, would have made headlines. 

The screenshots about the grooming allegation were never verified, and the person behind that account has not publicly accused Erika of wrongdoing.

Owens, who is known for propagating conspiracy theories, presented these screenshots in her show, but did not present court documents or law enforcement proof, following which a YouTube channel called Statecraft posted a video claiming Erika Kirk had been arrested while attempting to leave the country for Israel. 

The video also claimed that the arrest was connected to both the grooming allegation and the case involving Charlie Kirk’s death.

Candace Owens' earlier attacks against Erika Kirk

Candace Owens recently released a leaked recording of a private call where Erika is heard excitedly talking about Turning Point USA’s high merchandise sales just 11 days after his assassination. 

Owens criticized the widow for being 'extraordinarily upbeat' and laughing while discussing business metrics so soon after the tragedy.

Reacting to the audio, Owens told her viewers, "I want to remind you that Charlie [had] not been dead for two weeks."