Judge Denies Request to Arrest Kyle Rittenhouse

A Kenosha judge refused the request to issue a new arrest warrant and to increase the bond for 18-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse who is accused of killing two people during protests in Kenosha last summer.

Judge Bruce Schroeder denied the prosecutors in their attempts to issue an arrest warrant and add $200,000 to his $2 million bond. Schroeder did order that Rittenhouse share his current address with the Sheriff and court officials, but it will not be disclosed to anyone else.

The prosecutor, Thomas Binger, requested these charges after claiming Rittenhouse violated his bond agreement by not giving the court his current residence. According to Binger, they sent him mail and it was returned to sender. After visiting the address, it was discovered someone else had been living there said Binger.

It was clear already the tension was high in the courtroom. Many times Schroeder cut Binger off, not allowing him to finish his sentence.

“No no no no I don’t want to hear about protests, I don’t want to deal with the media reports that are inaccurate,” Schroeder interrupted.

Also in appearance at the hearing was John Huber, father of Anthony Huber who was shot and killed by Rittenhouse. He and Binger argued that the defendant has no stake in the bond and shows lack of remorse for what he did.

“It’s not like his mom and dad put up the family house to get him out. He has nothing to lose,” said Huber.

Schroeder said he has had people on bail not update their addresses before and he never had them arrested. Instead, he required Rittenhouse to share his current address with court officials and the sheriff and no one else would have access.

Binger asked to have access to the address, but Schroeder denied the request stating he doesn’t want any more violence.

“I hope you are not suggesting that sharing this information with our office would lead to further violence,” said Attorney Binger.

Schroeder responded that all bail violations can be taken care of by the Sheriff. Binger argued back that Rittenhouse doesn’t live in Kenosha so the Sheriff would not have jurisdiction, but Schroeder cut him off.

The defense attorney, Mark Richards, claims they gave the address in order to protect Rittenhouse from threats on his life. After being released, Rittenhouse was moved to a safe house. Although Richards does take the blame for not updating his address in the courts sooner, he believes it should not matter. According to Richards, his client has never missed a court appearance and they have been in contact the whole time so it should not matter where he is located.

“We have nothing to fear,” Richards said. “The truth will set my client free.”

Huber along with Gaige Grosskreutz, who was injured by Rittenhouse during the shooting, asked to have the bond raised to $4 million

“In my opinion, Mr. Rittenhouse has shown a pattern of a lack of remorse during this bond time before trial,” said Grosskreutz.

“How would you feel if the killer of your son is able to walk free and make videos at bars and just live it up?” said John Huber.

Huber is referring to the recent string of videos and pictures that show Rittenhouse drinking at a bar with his mother, which is legal in Wisconsin, while taking photos and flashing hand signs linked to white supremacy. At the bar, he was also serenaded by men singing the anthem for the neo-fascist group The Proud Boys.

Kyle Rittenhouse is being charged with multiple counts of homicide and reckless endangerment. At the time, Rittenhouse was 17 and had an illegally obtained AK-15 style rifle and used it during the protests in Kenosha after the Jacob Blake shooting. According to protestors, at the protest he shot and killed Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber. He also shot Gaige Grosskreutz in the arm but Grosskreutz survived.

According to former Rittenhouse defense attorney John Pierce’s past statement, Rittenhouse was armed to help protect a local auto dealership that was getting destroyed by the mobs. According to Pierce’s statement, Rittenhouse’s intent was not to incite violence but to prevent property damage. He used his weapon when he heard gunshots and turned to see a protestor lunging at him in an attempt to take his weapon. He was then kicked to the ground and attacked by the protestors, so he fired into the crowd. The defense they are taking is self-defense.

On the other side, according to the criminal complaint, it was an utter disregard for human life by Rittenhouse that caused the reckless death of the two men and the injury of the third. Some are claiming him as a white supremacist, while others have rallied with Rittenhouse in support of the right to have firearms. People across America even raised money to pay off his initial $2 million bond, Rittenhouse didn’t have to pay anything.

“He is enjoying this media circus and the support from these hate groups and militia members that have posted his bond,” said John Huber during the court hearing.

The pre-trial conference is set for March 10 and the trial date will be confirmed then by the judge. The tentative date for the homicide trial is March 29.

The full trial can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUAfzzTccz4