News · Explainer
Who is Mitch Snow, and how did he become a defendant in Harpole v. Owens?
Mitchell Snow is a retired Army sergeant who said on Candace Owens's podcast that he was at Fort Huachuca the day before the Kirk shooting. He is now a defendant, representing himself.
By Americans for Transparency · Published
The short answer
Mitchell H. Snow is a retired U.S. Army sergeant and a Washington State resident. He appeared on Candace Owens's podcast and described himself as an eyewitness who was at Fort Huachuca around September 9, 2025. Brian Harpole, who led Charlie Kirk's security, then sued Owens, her companies and Snow for defamation, saying the account falsely placed Harpole there. Snow represents himself and has filed sworn declarations standing by his account.
- Snow is a retired U.S. Army sergeant and a Washington State resident.
- He spoke on Candace Owens's podcast and said he was an eyewitness at Fort Huachuca.
- He is a defendant in Harpole v. Owens, not a plaintiff.
- He represents himself and has filed three sworn declarations.
His background
Mitchell Snow is a retired U.S. Army sergeant. The New York Times described him that way in its report on the lawsuit. In his court filings he identifies as a resident of Washington State, which is the basis for part of his motion to dismiss.[1][2]
How he entered the story
Snow appeared on Candace Owens's podcast and described himself as an eyewitness, saying he was at Fort Huachuca around September 9, 2025, the day before Charlie Kirk was shot. That account is what the lawsuit is about.[1][2]
Brian Harpole, who led Kirk's security team, says the account falsely placed him at that meeting, and he sued Owens, two of her companies and Snow for defamation on April 30, 2026.[2][3]
“Snow did not immediately respond to a request for comment.”
Where he stands now
Snow represents himself. He has moved to dismiss on two grounds, that a Tennessee court lacks jurisdiction over a Washington resident and under Tennessee's anti-SLAPP law, and has filed three sworn declarations. AFNPT's review found the record supports his sworn statements that he received none of the fundraiser money and that Owens contacted him first, while one statement about whether he had watched Owens's program is contradicted by his own recorded words. The eight findings are here.[4]
Questions people ask
Is Mitch Snow a lawyer?
No. He represents himself in the case, which is known as appearing pro se. He has filed his own motions and sworn declarations.
What did Snow claim on the podcast?
He described himself as an eyewitness and said he was at Fort Huachuca around September 9, 2025. The lawsuit alleges that account falsely placed the plaintiff at a meeting there.
Has Snow retracted his account?
No. He has filed sworn declarations standing by it. No court has ruled on whether it is true, and AFNPT found no independent confirmation of it.
Why is he sued in Tennessee if he lives in Washington?
That is one of his objections. Part of his motion to dismiss argues a Tennessee federal court lacks personal jurisdiction over a Washington State resident. The court has not ruled on it.
Sources
- [1]The New York Times, republished by The Salt Lake Tribune, Charlie Kirk's former security chief sues Candace Owens for defamation, May 1, 2026. News report“Snow did not immediately respond to a request for comment.”
- [2]U.S. District Court, M.D. Tenn., Complaint, Harpole v. Owens, Doc. 1, April 30, 2026. Primary record
- [3]Newsweek, Ex-Charlie Kirk Security Chief Sues Candace Owens, Alleging Defamation, April 30, 2026. News report
- [4]Americans for Transparency, Mitch Snow: The Sworn Record vs. the Public Record, October 7, 2026. AFNPT review