Kyle Rittenhouse’s defense attorney said it is “disgusting” that some Republican lawmakers are trying to cash in on his client’s acquittal.
Rittenhouse, 18, was acquitted of all charges on Friday by a jury for the August 25, 2020 incident in Kenosha Wis. where he shot three men, two fatally, during a Black Lives Matter protest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
Even before the verdict was read, Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz signalled he was interested in hiring Rittenhouse as an intern. Since the verdict, two other right wing GOP lawmakers, Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) and Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) have offered internship positions to the teen as well. Gosar even said he would “arm wrestle” Gaetz for Rittenhouse.
In an interview with Insider, Rittenhouse’s defense attorney Mark Richards blasted the lawmakers for their job offers, saying it is “disgusting” that they would try to profit off his client’s “celebrity.”
“They’re raising money on it and you have all these Republican congressmen saying come work for me,” Richards told Insider. “They want to trade on his celebrity and I think it’s disgusting.”
Richards also slammed Donald Trump Jr. who tweeted then deleted a post saying Rittenhouse would be awarded an AR-15 from a gun rights organization.
“He’s an idiot,” Richards said of Don Jr. “I don’t have to expand on that because it speaks for itself.”
