Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has expanded his Securing Children Online Through Parental Empowerment (SCOPE) Act investigation into the social media platform Discord following revelations that the reported assassin who murdered conservative leader Charlie Kirk used the app to communicate about the killing.
The suspect, Tyler Robinson, 22, reportedly used Discord to discuss the killing and was heavily influenced by toxic online meme culture. This tragedy has reignited debates about how unmoderated online spaces can turn into breeding grounds for hatred and violence.
Discord has claimed it found “no evidence that the suspect planned this incident or promoted violence on Discord.”
Despite this, there have been at least seven posts uncovered from social media users who appeared to have advanced knowledge of the assassination plot, as The Gateway Pundit has been reporting. The FBI is reportedly investigating those users.
Last month, executives from major gaming and social media companies, including Discord, were summoned to testify before Congress about the growing concern that online platforms foster and seemingly promote extremism.
“I’m standing shoulder to shoulder with the Trump Administration to root out and defeat nihilistic violent extremism in all its forms,” said Attorney General Paxton.
“Discord has chosen to allow extremist content, sexual exploitation, and addiction to flourish on its platform. It has a legal obligation to prevent minors from being exposed to these evils, but instead its actions have contributed to the growing wave of nihilistic violence all across our nation.”
According to the press release:
“Attorney General Paxton previously launched an investigation into Discord regarding its privacy and safety practices for minors. As part of this new expansion in the investigation, Attorney General Paxton has issued an expanded Civil Investigative Demand (“CID”) to Discord focused on extremist content, sexual exploitation of minors by grooming gangs, the rise of shooters carrying out acts of nihilistic extremist violence, and the addictiveness of the platform for minors.
The Attorney General’s investigation will examine the content on Discord’s platform and its role in contributing to the radicalization, sexual exploitation, and addiction of minors.”
The announcement follows Attorney General Ken Paxton’s launch of undercover operations aimed at infiltrating and dismantling leftist terror cells across Texas amid a sharp rise in politically motivated violence.
According to the press release:
In response to the political assassination of national hero Charlie Kirk and the disturbing rise of leftist violence across the country, Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched undercover investigations into various groups affiliated with left-wing political violence known to be operating in Texas.
“Leftist political terrorism is a clear and present danger. Corrupted ideologies like transgenderism and Antifa are a cancer on our culture and have unleashed their deranged and drugged-up foot soldiers on the American people,” said Attorney General Paxton. “The martyrdom of Charlie Kirk marks a turning point in America. There can be no compromise with those who want us dead. To that end, I have directed my office to continue its efforts to identify, investigate, and infiltrate these leftist terror cells. To those demented souls who seek to kill, steal, and destroy our country, know this: you cannot hide, you cannot escape, and justice is coming.”
The radical Left has incubated an environment where political violence is not only justified but celebrated and praised. In July, nearly two dozen armed leftists connected to various Texas-based Antifa-like groups ambushed an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) facility in Alvarado, Texas. On September 10, 2025, a leftist assassin connected to the radical transgender movement murdered Charlie Kirk because of Kirk’s bold support for truth, love of country, and unshakable faith. Two weeks later, another deranged leftist opened fire at an ICE facility in Dallas.
President Donald Trump has officially designated Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization and instructed his administration to “utilize all applicable authorities to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle any and all illegal operations — especially those involving terrorist actions — conducted by Antifa.” Building on President Trump’s bold actions, Attorney General Paxton has instructed his office to initiate sweeping investigations into radical leftist organizations engaged in or providing support to those performing political violence.