The crackdown on Charlie Kirk critics has ignited a free speech debate. Legal experts say it sets a dangerous precedent.

In the week since conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated at a Utah university event, comments from some of his critics have ignited a battle over free speech in an increasingly polarized nation.

Kirk, who routinely debated progressive students at his Turning Point USA events and espoused controversial opinions on his podcast, was a stalwart proponent of the First Amendment.

"Hate speech does not exist legally in America," he wrote on X last year. "There's ugly speech. There's gross speech. There's evil speech. And ALL of it is protected by the First Amendment."

But over the last several days, the administration he supported and the president he helped reelect have vowed to crack down on some speech about his death.

Last week, Pentagon officials promised to "add