A federal magistrate judge in Tennessee on Wednesday granted the request by Brian Harpole, the former head of security to Charlie Kirk, for the U.S. Marshals Service to serve Mitch Snow with the defamation lawsuit targeting him and Candace Owens over his claim that Harpole, Erika Kirk, and members of the military attended a secret meeting in Arizona one day before Charlie Kirk was assassinated.
In his three-page order, U.S. Magistrate Judge Luke Evans offered two reasons justifying the intervention of the Marshals, beginning with the alleged failure by process servers to reach Snow despite multiple attempts.
“Harpole attached to his motion papers a certificate from his process server indicating that the process server visited Snow’s address in Pasco, Washington five times between May 1 and May 11, 2026 and received either no answer or a refusal to cooperate,” wrote the magistrate. “A telephone call between the process server and Snow also ended with a refusal to cooperate.”
The certificate referenced by the magistrate claims that the process server attempted to visit Snow at his home a total of five times, including one where service was prevented by a “hostile environment.”
In his second reason for granting Harpole’s request to enlist the Marshals, the magistrate referenced the allegedly hostile environment.
“According to the process server, the fourth attempt at personal service at Snow’s address ended ‘due to a hostile environment,” wrote Evans in the decision. “The process server did not provide details of the hostile environment in his certificate, but Harpole has implied that the hostility from Snow was consistent with a prior misdemeanor conviction for malicious mischief.”
The judge additionally wrote that he will direct the Marshals to serve Snow in person, indicating the next attempt to serve him with the lawsuit could come in the form of a visit from federal law enforcement.
Snow has disputed the hostile environment claim, as well as whether the process server actually attempted to reach him with the lawsuit, in multiple posts to social media.
“Here is the claimed Chaotic, Criminal, Hostile situation at Mitch Snow’s residence,” wrote Snow last Saturday, attaching what appear to be still images of security cameras placed inside his home. “As anyone can see, none of that is true. Also, cameras confirmn [sic] one has attempted any legitimate contact.”
Here is the claimed Chaotic, Criminal, Hostile situation at Mitch Snow's residence. As anyone can see, none of that is true. Also,cameras confirmn one has attempted any legitimate contact. pic.twitter.com/eh5RPtB7jf
— Real_Mitch_Now (@Justice4Gr8Nate) May 16, 2026
Snow referenced the purported attempts to serve him a second time on Wednesday, hours after the magistrate authorized the Marshals to intervene.
“Brian Harpole is a known liar,” Snow wrote in a post to X. “Some would have the public believe one must avail themselves to any frivolous and meritless lawsuit filed anywhere in the country. Anyone believing this is an absolute idiot.”
Later in his post, Snow claimed Harpole and the process servers have yet to attempt to make contact.
“If he does not want to be in court, why claim he is suing me & not serve me? Why lie and claim he has tried? Because Brian Harpole is a liar,” he wrote. “And he knows this will open massive countersuit. Further, he wants the 90 day to expire & dismiss his own case then run like the b**** he & Melton & Cornaccia all are.”
Brian Harpole is a known liar.
Some would have the public believe one must avail themselves to any frivolous and meritless lawsuit filed anywhere in the country. Anyone believing this is an absolute idiot.
No one needs be expected to wander around to every courthouse in the…— Real_Mitch_Now (@Justice4Gr8Nate) May 20, 2026
While Harpole claims he has yet to receive service for the lawsuit, Owens has already retained two Tennessee-based lawyers to represent her against the defamation claims, including one ranked as a “Super Lawyer” for six years, who specializes in “crisis-driven litigation” and clients “facing reputational risk.”
Owens has indicated her legal strategy could include deposing Charlie Kirk’s widow and seeking never-before-seen footage of his assassination.
While Owens and Snow now face litigation over their comments about the Turning Point USA founder’s assassination, authorities in Utah have accused Tyler Robinson, 23, of killing Charlie Kirk. He remains behind bars ahead of a July trial.
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Tom Pappert is a 2025 recipient of the Dao Prize and the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star. He also reports for the Star News Network. Follow Tom on X. Email tips to [email protected].
Images “Candace Owens” and “Mitch Snow” by Candace Owens.
