Kenosha ‘shooter’ Kyle Rittenhouse thanks ‘fans’ from behind bars in odd Twitter video posted by lawyer
KYLE Rittenhouse thanked his “fans” on Tuesday while locked up in jail for allegedly killing two protesters in Wisconsin last week. The 17-year-old’s attorney, John Pierce, posted a phone call with Rittenhouse to Twitter, in which someone behind the camera asks what he wants to say to those who support him. “We have Kyle Rittenhouse […]
KYLE Rittenhouse thanked his “fans” on Tuesday while locked up in jail for allegedly killing two protesters in Wisconsin last week.
The 17-year-old’s attorney, John Pierce, posted a phone call with Rittenhouse to Twitter, in which someone behind the camera asks what he wants to say to those who support him.
“We have Kyle Rittenhouse direct from county jail,” someone in the clip says before handing the call over to Rittenhouse.
Rittenhouse is currently being held at a juvenile facility in Vernon Hills, Illinois, for allegedly murdering two people and injuring another.
“I just wanna thank every single one of you from the bottom of my heart for the underlining support,” Rittenhouse says on the call posted to Twitter.
“I just want to thank all of you for the mail I’ve been receiving. It’s been really helpful.
“I just want to let you all know that I’m going to be out of here soon,” the 17-year-old said. “I hope to see you guys soon.”
The attorney said Rittenhouse’s actions were “100 percent self-defense.”
“If this is not self-defense for Kyle Rittenhouse under these circumstances, then no one can protect themselves, no one can protect their family, and no one can protect their country.”
Pierce’s tweet promoting the call read: “KYLE RITTENHOUSE SPEAKS!!!!!! THIS MUST BE THE TWEET HEARD ‘ROUND THE WORLD!!!!!! RETWEET AND DONATE TO THE #FIGHTBACK FOUNDATION RIGHT NOW!!!!!”
The clip was widely criticized on Twitter, with many questioning why Pierce would post something like that involving a client.
Conservative Stephen Miller wrote: “I guess the only excuse I can think of for this guy doing this is there are currently sitting Senators lobbying to eliminate due prices for this kid.
“Other than that & the [public relations] I can’t imagine why he would do this.”
Another Twitter user said: “I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment, but from a legal perspective this is… ill-advised.”
Last week, Rittenhouse was armed with an AR-15 rifle at a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, following the police shooting of black father Jacob Blake.
“People are getting injured and our job is to protect this business,” Rittenhouse told a Daily Caller reporter that night.
“And part of my job is to also help people. If there is somebody hurt, I’m running into harm’s way. That’s why I have my rifle.”
By the end of the night, Rittenhouse was accused of killing two and severely wounding a third.
In the days since, the hashtag #FreeKyleRittenhouse has trended on Twitter and a self-described Christian fundraising site, GiveSendGo, says it has raised more than $100,000 for Rittenhouse’s defense.
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A post that included pictures of Rittenhouse cleaning up graffiti in Kenosha before the shooting was shared and liked thousands of times.
Rittenhouse has also received support from President Donald Trump, who told reporters: “We’re looking at all of it and that was an interesting situation.
“You saw the same tape as I saw and he was trying to get away from them, I guess, it looks like he fell and then they very violently attacked him.