Rittenhouse defense responds to donors list demand
Kyle Rittenhouse’s attorney says he doesn’t know who donated to his client’s various legal defense funds over the past year, and that who specifically pays him is none of the state’s business.
Mark Richards made the points in a tart response to prosecutors’ recent motion to compel production of the documents. The judge hasn’t ruled on the motion yet.
Rittenhouse, 18, is charged with two homicides and other counts in the Aug. 25, 2020 shootings in Kenosha. His attorneys have said he acted in self defense.
“The State requests information from the defense which we do not have possession of and have never possessed,” Richards wrote.
“As stated in my August 16, 2021 email to ADA Binger, my office has no access to or control of any information regarding ‘donated money to or purchased merchandise from any website, foundation or organization whose primary purpose is to support Mr. Rittenhouse.’ Moreover, my office has absolutely no contact in any capacity with the Fightback Foundation.”
#Fightback Foundation is a Texas non-profit formed just weeks before Rittenhouse fatally shot two protesters and wounded a third in Kenosha on Aug. 25, 2020, during the unrest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
It was formed by Lin Wood, an Atlanta defamation lawyer and John Pierce, a Los Angeles civil litigator, to “bring lawsuits to check the lies of the left.” Within hours of the shootings, Wendy Rittenhouse had agreed to accept representation from them for her son.
Then Wood got deeply caught up in challenging the results of the 2020 presidential election and left the team. The family fired Pierce early this year -all after Wood and Pierce used their extensive social media followings to solicit about $2 million in donations to #FightBack for Rittenhouse’s defense.
In his request, Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger said he needed to make sure people in the potential juror pool aren’t among the donors.
Richards said in his response that Binger’s concern is easily addressed during the jury selection process, when potential jurors can be questioned whether they donated money or bought “Free Kyle” merchandise from the family’s web site.
Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder has set a Sept. 17 hearing on the request and other pending motions.