Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Kyle Rittenhouse blasts ‘piece of s***’ trial prosecutor and says he wants to be a lawyer

Teenager surprised conservative show hosts with law school ambitions

Gino Spocchia
Tuesday 07 December 2021 19:30 GMT
Comments
Kyle Rittenhouse says he wants to be a lawyer
Leer en Español

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Kyle Rittenhouse has said he wants to become a lawyer following his trial and acquittal by a Wisconsin jury.

The Illinois teenager said in an interview with right-wing news website BlazeTV on Monday night that he wanted to become a lawyer following his trial.

“I want to be a lawyer. I want to go to law school,” the 18-year-old told hosts Elijah Schaffer and Sydney Watson, who appeared surprised.

Mr Rittenhouse, asked if he wanted to became a lawyer because of his trial, said that was what inspired him to become a lawyer.

“Towards the end of [the] trial I’m like, ‘I want to go against corrupt piece of s*** prosecutors like Thomas Binger’,” the teenager told BlazeTV.

He continued: “And put them in their place and make sure they never practise law again”.

“I just love that”, Ms Watson said. The remarks were a reference to Mr Binger, of the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office, and whom was prosecutor in his trial in November.

Mr Rittenhouse, who was accused over the shooting of three men – two of them fatally – during protests against police brutality in Wisconsin last August, had pleaded not guilty and was acquitted by a jury.

The teenager has become a favourite of right-wing commentators and has featured on Fox News, where an audience of five million watched his interview with anchor Tucker Carlson.

Former US president Donald Trump has also met Mr Rittenhouse and described him as a “nice young man”.

Campaigners against police brutality were meanwhile disappointed with what many described as an act of vigintalism, and not self defence.

Mr Binger refused to comment when approached by The Independent.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in