‘Constant annoyance’: Senior NewsNation reporter slams Idaho’s handling of the Bryan Kohberger case, as leak allegations leveled at prosecutor’s office

A prominent NewsNation journalist is raising questions about Idaho’s willingness to deal with the Bryan Kohberger murder case.

At the same time, social media allegations claim the Latah County Prosecutor’s Office may be responsible for the Idaho 4 Dateline episode leak, which threatened to derail the Kohberger murder case, raising questions about transparency.

“Idaho has not wanted to deal with this case”

Brian Entin, senior national correspondent for NewsNation and one of the most closely followed reporters covering the University of Idaho student murders, posted a candid critique on X on June 30.

Entin said, “My personal feeling is from the beginning Idaho has not wanted to deal with this case.” He cited a series of decisions that have drawn scrutiny, including “University of Idaho taking ownership of the house and tearing it down.” He added: “initial judge passing the case on,” and “the gag order and constant annoyance with any attention the case gets.”

The Dateline leak

Entin’s comments come after a new wave of controversy involving alleged leaks to NBC’s Dateline. According to one unconfirmed social media theory, sensitive information may have been improperly shared by someone within the Latah County prosecutor’s office. The judge in the case, Steven Hippler, explicitly stated that the gag order was “likely” violated by someone associated with law enforcement or the prosecution

The leak—reportedly involving details about the plea deal and prosecution strategy—outraged the victims’ families. It also deepened concerns about the court’s ability to handle the case with transparency and integrity.

Plea deal outrage

Entin’s frustration echoes a broader wave of criticism following the controversial plea deal, sparing Kohberger the death penalty. Kohberger is accused of murdering four University of Idaho students—Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin—in 2022. The family has been vocal in their support for the harshest sentence possible. The reported deal has only intensified tensions.

Victims’ families have responded with outrage to the news of a potential plea deal. In a recent public statement, Goncalves’s father expressed disbelief and grief. He said, “We met with prosecution AGAIN today to reiterate our views on pushing for the death penalty. Unfortunately, all of our efforts did not matter. We DID OUR BEST! We fought harder than anyone could EVER imagine.”Steve also blasted the arrangement as “adult child care.”

What’s next for Kohberger

As of now, Kohberger remains in custody awaiting a hearing to finalize the plea agreement. Whether the court accepts the current plea arrangement remains uncertain. The families of the victims continue to push for the case to go to trial.

Legal analysts say the prosecution must now decide whether it wants to risk trial complications or proceed with a deal likely to enrage the public and the families affected. Meanwhile, scrutiny on Idaho’s handling of the case grows louder, thanks in part to Entin’s public frustration.