Rittenhouse attorney says teenager not a ‘crazy right winger’ despite ‘pandering; Carlson interview

Kyle Rittenhouse‘s lawyer defended the teenager, saying he’s not ‘a crazy right-winger’ after the teen sat down with Fox News‘s Tucker Carlson for his first post-acquittal interview.

The teen had surprised many viewers who praised him for his ‘maturity’ and level headedness even as he described being inundated with death threats. Yet many on the left were furious with his appearance, branding him a ‘murderer’ and calling the interview ‘gross pandering’.

Mark Richards, who won widespread acclaim for his representation of Rittenhouse during the 19-day trial, had previously said that he did not approve of his client agreeing to be followed by Carlson’s team.

A documentary about the trial will be broadcast on Fox Nation in the next few weeks.

Richards said that he did not particularly object to Rittenhouse’s decision to speak to Carlson on Monday, and insisted it did not mean the Illinois-born Rittenhouse held extreme views.

‘Kyle’s been through a lot, and he’s, I think, feeling his way along in the world,’ Richards told CNN’s Chris Cuomo.

‘I’ve talked to him about politics.

‘I’ve talked to him about things that happen in one’s life, and I don’t think he’s a crazy right winger. That’s what I would say.’

Mark Richards, who represented Kyle Rittenhouse in his trial, insisted on Monday night that the 18-year-old was not ‘a crazy right winger’

Rittenhouse on Monday night insisted that he acted in self-defense

Richards said he felt Rittenhouse had been used by his previous lawyers, Lin Wood and John Pierce, for money and to advance their own political causes.

The pair represented Rittenhouse immediately after the August 25, 2020 shooting dead of two protesters in Kenosha, but were removed from Rittenhouse’s team by December. 

‘They wanted to portray him as a militia member who is fighting and protecting the world from an inept government, and Kyle wasn’t a militia member,’ said Richards.

‘He was, you know, at the time, by law a child.  

‘Tucker Carlson interviewing Kyle Rittenhouse is disgusting. F*** both of you.’

Others said Rittenhouse should be in jail.

‘Kyle was the person on trial. Kyle used self-defense as a defense. It worked with the jury. It did not work with me. The man should be in prison.’ 

‘He was 17 years old, young adult and he went there to help somebody who he felt had been harmed.

‘He wasn’t there to send some message or be some member of some organized or unorganized militia.

‘He was trying to help out a friend’s past employer whose business had burned down the night before and had two businesses left.’

Richards said there was no evidence at all that Rittenhouse was a white supremacist – despite Joe Biden in September 2020 lumping him in with neo-Nazis and Proud Boys. 

‘They went through all of his social media,’ said Rittenhouse. 

‘He voluntarily opened his apple iPhone, which was encrypted to show that there was nothing there, and that was brought out at trial. 

‘You know, John Pierce took him to that bar where there were the people who I think were 3 Percenters and were supposedly providing security.

‘That’s a whole other story with what Pierce did in taking him down to Miami and introducing him to Enrique Ontario.

‘As soon as Kyle found out who that was, he called his mother and he got out of Florida.

‘And shortly after that, John Pierce was fired.

‘This kid has better judgment than many people have portrayed.

‘He did not want to be involved in the things that Pierce wanted him involved in.’

Pierce is currently representing many of the Capitol rioters, and Richards said that he thought Pierce used Rittenhouse to curry favor with right-wing agitators in need of a lawyer. 

‘I think Pierce used him as an entree to some of these circles, and you see it in the people who John Pierce is currently representing,’ said Richards.

Rittenhouse sat down with Carlson days after being cleared of homicide, attempted homicide and more in the shooting deaths of two men 

On social media, Rittenhouse’s interview was given a mixed reaction.

‘Now murderer Kyle Rittenhouse is fine dining with his wealthy supporters, raking in lots of money to support an extravagant lifestyle and climbing to the top of popularity among Fox News. Disgusting and horrible,’ said one.

‘Rittenhouse is a mentally challenged individual. He was enrolled in special needs classes in school. Everything he said was scripted by Tucker Carlson’s program. Rittenhouse is a murderer with white privilege’,’ said another. 

Another added: ‘White privilege is alive and well. It’s horrendous. How do you sleep at night? Hanging upside down?’

Podcast producer Toure said: ‘Tucker Carlson calling Kyle Rittenhouse a “sweet kid” and saying “imagine putting that kid in jail.” This interview is gross pandering.’ 

Another noted: ‘Funny. Tucker and his cult never called Tamir Rice a “sweet kid.”‘

Yet others were more impressed.

‘Kyle Rittenhouse is very articulate,’ said one. 

‘This Rittenhouse kid has a bright future. Well spoken and extremely mature!’ said another.

Another added: ‘Really impressive interview Tucker had with Kyle Rittenhouse. What a distorted view the media gave us of this young man. Go watch, not matter what side you might be on. You will think differently.’ 

‘anyone watch the kyle rittenhouse interview? still felt a little bit biased watching tucker carlson’s commentary, but this is by far the most non-biased recount of events i’ve personally seen,’ said another.

‘What the media has done and continues to do to Kyle Rittenhouse should be criminal! I hope he has a case against all of them including Pierce and Wood!’

One man said Rittenhouse made him proud.

‘LETS GO KYLE RITTENHOUSE, HES A TRUE AMERICAN! Just watched his interview with tucker Carlson and man, he makes me proud to be an American!’ 

Another said: ‘I would like every Democrat and member of the media who called Kyle Rittenhouse a white supremacist domestic terrorist to go watch the interview Tucker just did with him. And then delete your accounts.’

Source: Daily Mail