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By Khaleda Rahman
National Correspondent
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The CEO of Enloe Health has spoken out after an employee featured in a viral video questioning a Target worker for wearing a Charlie Kirk T-shirt on a store floor as police ruled out pursuing charges against the woman.
CEO Mike Wiltermood on Wednesday read out a statement from the company before answering questions from reporters. Wiltermood said the behavior of the woman, a medical assistant employed in one of the company’s outpatient clinics, was “abhorrent and deeply concerning for our caregivers, our organization and our community.” Wiltermood did not confirm whether the woman remains employed at Enloe Health, citing the company’s confidentiality policy.
He said the Target worker, known as “Jeannie from Target,” deserves “significant credit for handling the situation in a calm and collected manner.”
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The Chico Police Department in California said it launched an investigation into the incident after the video went viral on Tuesday. In an update on Wednesday, the department said “there are no criminal charges appropriate to file in this case.”
Newsweek has contacted Enloe Health and Target for comment via emails sent outside regular business hours.
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Why It Matters
The interaction between the woman and the Target employee has highlighted the nation’s ongoing debate over free speech, political expression in public settings, and the powerful influence of social media.
The assassination in September of Kirk, the co-founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, a conservative youth movement, sparked outpourings of grief, deep concern about political violence as well as debates about free speech and Kirk's views.
And the response to the deaths of public figures at a moment of deep polarization has become a lightning rod in modern politics. Vice President JD Vance has encouraged people to report those who may be celebrating Kirk's killing to employers. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s recent comments about the killing of Rob Reiner, the acclaimed director who was an active figure in Democratic politics, have prompted widespread criticism, including from his own supporters.
What To Know
In the video, which has been viewed millions of times on TikTok and X, the woman can be heard asking the Target worker, "Why the f*** would you wear that?," "Are you f***ing stupid?" and "You support a racist?”
At one point, the Target worker says, "I'm sorry but I'm not going to stand here and argue with you over it.”
In response to questions from reporters, Wiltermood said the company had been inundated with thousands of calls and emails since the video began circulating online.
“It's very difficult when we're taking those kind of calls, because, you know, you never know when somebody is trying to reach a family member or patient has a concern and so we're just asking people for restraint,” he said.
The police department said that it had initiated the investigation after confirming the incident took place at the Target store in Chico.
In a post, the department noted that the First Amendment “provides various protections related to the freedom of expression.”
It said that after “a careful review of the available facts and speaking with the Target employee involved, we have determined that the actions of the woman recording the video do not meet the threshold for criminal acts.”
Meanwhile, more than 7,000 people have donated to a a GiveSendGo fundraiser that was set up for the Target worker.
The creator of the page said the “elderly Target worker found herself at the center of national attention after being filmed by someone we can only describe as unhinged.”
They added that the fundraising page was set up to try to raise enough money to send the worker on a “much-needed vacation.”
What People Are Saying
Wiltermood said in a statement, in part: “The behavior depicted in this video does not mirror Enloe Health’s core values, and we are committed to doing what is right by taking the actions necessary to protect our patients and community. At this time, we ask for patience, grace, and civility as we do so.
“As part of our policy and commitment to confidentiality, Enloe Health does not provide comments or statements regarding individual employees or personnel matters.”
The Chico Police Department said in a statement on Facebook: “As a law enforcement organization, we have an obligation to uphold the United States Constitution. Specific to this incident, the First Amendment provides various protections related to the freedom of expression. An individual’s ability to express themselves can be thought of as a spectrum- with free speech on one end and criminal conduct at the other end of the continuum. After a careful review of the available facts and speaking with the Target employee involved, we have determined that the actions of the woman recording the video do not meet the threshold for criminal acts.
“While we recognize that this topic is emotionally charged, our role is to evaluate whether or not any criminal conduct occurred during the incident. As a result, there are no criminal charges appropriate to file in this case. However, this incident serves as a reminder of the longstanding principle that while individuals may have the right to say certain things, exercising discretion and consideration for others is always advisable. In other words- just because you can say something, doesn’t mean you should.”
What Happens Next?
It remains unclear if the woman who filmed the video remains employed, but she will not face any criminal charges.
Meanwhile, the GiveSendGo fundraiser for the Target worker has raised more than $200,000 as of early Thursday morning.
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