Attorney for Kyle Rittenhouse demands Biden campaign retract 'false accusation' that his client is a 'white supremacist'



The attorney for Kyle Rittenhouse — the 17-year-old facing murder charges for killing two people and wounding a third during Black Lives Matter riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last month — is formally demanding that the Biden campaign retract an accusation that his client is a "white supremacist."

What are the details?

In a tweet posted Wednesday morning, the attorney, Lin Wood, warned that he is preparing a formal demand for public retraction in response to a post on former Vice President Joe Biden's Twitter account.

"Formal demand for public retraction is being prepared for Biden/Harris Campaign on behalf of Kyle Rittenhouse," he wrote. "I also hereby demand that [Joe Biden] immediately retract his false accusation that Kyle is a white supremacist & militia member responsible for violence in Kenosha."

Formal demand for public retraction is being prepared for Biden/Harris Campaign on behalf of Kyle Rittenhouse. I… https://t.co/VK37aZoX1X
— Lin Wood (@Lin Wood)1601470909.0

Wood's tweet included a screenshot from a Biden campaign video, in which the Democratic challenger asserted: "There's no other way to put it: the President of the United States refused to disavow white supremacists on the debate stage last night."

The Biden video focuses on a segment from the first 2020 presidential debate in which moderator Chris Wallace asked President Trump to condemn white supremacists and militia groups. As the remarks are played, images of supposed white supremacist gatherings flash across the screen. At the 13-second mark, a picture of Rittenhouse is displayed.

There’s no other way to put it: the President of the United States refused to disavow white supremacists on the deb… https://t.co/lhR9D7v7Qv
— Joe Biden (@Joe Biden)1601465700.0

During the exchange, Trump and Biden squabbled over whether right-wing or left-wing groups are primarily responsible for the violence taking place in many cities across the country.

What's the background?

Rittenhouse is currently being tried as an adult on multiple counts of felony murder. If convicted, the charges would carry a mandatory life sentence.

But his legal defense team has argued that their client acted in self-defense on the night of Aug. 25.

Video of the incident does appear to show that Rittenhouse was being chased before firing his weapon, and a New York Times analysis discovered that Rittenhouse did not fire the first shot.

Rittenhouse's attorneys argued that video shows he tried to render medical aid to Joseph Rosenbaum and even called authorities to report the incident, before fleeing the scene "for his safety and his survival."

Then, they said in a statement, "another attacker struck Kyle from behind as he fled down the street. Kyle turned as the mob pressed in on him and he fell to the ground. One attacker kicked Kyle on the ground while he was on the ground. Yet another bashed him over the head with a skateboard. Several rioters tried to disarm Kyle. In fear for his life and concerned the crowd would either continue to shoot at him or even use his own weapon against him, Kyle had no choice but to fire multiple rounds towards his immediate attackers, striking two, including one armed attacker."

A video reportedly produced by #FightBack, an organization raising funds for the Rittenhouse's legal defense, attempted to demonstrate Rittenhouse's innocence.

Content warning: some viewers might find some portions of the video disturbing

Kyle Rittenhouse - The Truth in 11 Minutes youtu.be

‘The Truth In 11 Minutes’: Defense Lawyer Posts Video Of Kyle Rittenhouse

An organization raising funds for Kyle Rittenhouse’s legal defense, #FightBack Foundation, published a video this week outlining the events of the night the 17-year-old fatally shot two rioters in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Portions of the video were aired Tuesday evening on Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” as outlined by The Daily Wire. The video shows Rittenhouse […]

Kyle Rittenhouse's legal team releases new video of shooting showing that at least one gunshot was fired before teen ever opened fire



Kyle Rittenhouse's attorneys released brand-new footage appearing to show a Black Lives Matter demonstrator fired shots from a gun before Rittenhouse did, saying it clinches Rittenhouse's insistence of self-defense.

What's a brief history here?

Rittenhouse faces murder charges after he allegedly killed two rioters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and wounded another on Aug. 25 during ongoing protests. He is due to appear in court on Thursday for a hearing on his extradition to Wisconsin.

The teen faces several felony charges in connection with the fateful night, including first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18, and first-degree reckless endangerment.

Protesters took to the streets late in August following the police shooting of Jacob Blake.

In an August statement, Rittenhouse's legal team said, "Kyle did nothing wrong. He exercised his God-given, Constitutional, common law and statutory law right to self-defense."

What are the details?

Attorney Lin Wood released the footage on Tuesday evening, arguing that all three shootings were self-defense. Wood also argued that his client was being rushed and "pinned" against parked cars on the Kenosha streets.

The footage — produced by Wood's #FightBack Foundation — appears to show at least one gunshot before Rittenhouse even opened fire.

The video, titled "The Truth in 11 Minutes," features a narrator discussing the new footage and depicts Rittenhouse's version of events. In the video, Rittenhouse's defense argues that at least one shot was fired before the first fatal shooting, which killed 36-year-old Joseph Rosenbaum, a Black Lives Matter demonstrator.

A portion of the video appears to show Rosenbaum engaging in a dispute with men guarding a nearby gas station in Kenosha, and Rittenhouse's legal team argues that the decedent was furious that men guarding the gas station put out a dumpster fire that demonstrators reportedly had started earlier in the evening.

The video shows Rosenbaum repeatedly screaming, "Shoot me, n*****!" at one of the guards.

Later, the video shows Rittenhouse attempting to extinguish another fire, which his team says Rosenbaum helped light, and then features footage of a man appearing to be Rosenbaum, who is chasing after Rittenhouse.

The video then shows Rittenhouse fleeing into a nearby parking lot, closely followed by the man who appears to be Rosenbaum, as well as video journalist Richard McGinness.

The narrator says, "Directly in front of Rittenhouse, armed with bats and other weapons, a mob is forming a barricade."

It is at that point viewers can see and hear a gunshot. Rittenhouse's legal team identifies the source of the shot as protester Alexander Blaine.

Following the shot, Rittenhouse then turns on Rosenbaum and appears to open fire as Rosenbaum attempts to rush him.

Rittenhouse's legal team says that their client fired four shots — striking Rosenbaum four times — but the video documents three more shots all hailing from an unknown source.

Following Rosenbaum's shooting, Rittenhouse attempts to call emergency services but is forced to flee after a crowd converges on the scene.

As he flees, the crowd gives chase and he trips. While on the ground, Rittenhouse is attacked by several other demonstrators, and the teen fires two warning shots into the air as demonstrator Anthony Huber strikes him with a skateboard. Rittenhouse fires at Huber once, killing him.

Armed demonstrator Gaige Grosskreutz then approaches Rittenhouse, prompting Rittenhouse to fire another shot, wounding the protester.

You can see the full video below. (Content warning: some viewers might find some portions of the video disturbing)

Kyle Rittenhouse - The Truth in 11 Minuteswww.youtube.com

John Pierce, Kyle Rittenhouse lawyer, resigns from #FightBack Foundation defense fund

A lawyer representing a 17-year-old charged with shooting three people during a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, has resigned from his position with a defense fund that has raked in more than $700,000 to defend his client and conservative causes.

Attorney John Pierce is defending Kyle Rittenhouse against intentional homicide charges ...

Kyle Rittenhouse's lawyer says Twitter locked him out of his account for 'glorifying violence': 'I'm going to take Jack Dorsey's a** down'



An attorney for Kyle Rittenhouse — the 17-year-old charged with fatally shooting two men amid Kenosha rioting last week — said he was locked out of his Twitter account for "glorifying violence" after he'd been tweeting about raising money for his client's legal defense, Fox News reported.

L. Lin Wood also told the cable network he intends to file a lawsuit against Twitter and its CEO Jack Dorsey.

"I'm going to take Jack Dorsey's ass down," Wood added to Fox News. "He has been abusing the First Amendment of this country for his own agenda."

What are the details?

Wood was locked out of his account for several hours Tuesday for violating Twitter rules — specifically for "glorifying violence," the cable network said, adding that Wood insisted he has been careful to abide by the social media giant's terms of service.

More from Fox News:

On Monday, Wood revealed on Twitter that more than 11,000 donors have raised $605,550 for the legal defense of Rittenhouse, who claims the shootings in Kenosha were self-defense.

A Twitter user asked if Wood would be selling or disclosing his donor list to other groups. Lin replied "No" and added "#fightback" in reference to the name of the legal fund foundation. That was his last tweet before getting locked out.

Wood also represents Nick Sandmann, Carter Page, St. Louis couple Mark and Patricia McCloskey, Dr. Simone Gold, and Georgia congressional candidate Marjorie Taylor Greene, who posted that "Twitter is censoring" Wood:

.@Twitter is censoring my attorney @LLinWood .@jack why are conservatives being canceled on Twitter?We will not… https://t.co/RoCZNi3plH
— Marjorie Taylor Greene For Congress🇺🇸 (@Marjorie Taylor Greene For Congress🇺🇸)1598994417.0

"I was arrested today & confined in Twitter jail falsely accused of glorifying violence. I was exonerated this evening by a finding of 'incorrectly actioned.' I am free tonight," Wood tweeted Tuesday night after his account was reinstated.

He added: "Kyle Rittenhouse was arrested on 8/26 & is confined in Illinois jail falsely accused of murder. Kyle will be exonerated when truth is revealed by a finding of 'incorrectly actioned.' Kyle will be free soon."

What did Twitter have to say?

A Twitter spokesperson told Fox News it was all a big mistake: "This account was incorrectly actioned. This has been reversed, and the account has been reinstated."

Twitter has been criticized lately for double standards in its treatment of posts. During a July hearing on anti-Semitism, a Twitter representative defended his company's decision to not block tweets from Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calling for genocide while flagging tweets from President Donald Trump.

Wood told Fox News he wasn't surprised by what Twitter did to him: "I knew they were going to censor me because I'm sending a message of hope. I'm sending a message of truth. And I'm sending a message that Kyle Rittenhouse is innocent."

Wood added to the cable network that he now will rely on Parler, a newer social media service that has attracted conservatives tired of Twitter.

Et tu, Facebook?

TheBlaze recently reported that Facebook has banned users from sharing a crowdfunding link to assist with Rittenhouse's legal fee but allows fundraising posts for others charged with crimes — including murder — which makes it appear as though Facebook unfairly singling out Rittenhouse.

Anything else?

Another Rittenhouse attorney, John Pierce — who said his client acted in self-defense — shared video footage of a conversation he said was between him and Rittenhouse. The caller can be heard on the phone saying, "I just wanna thank every single one of you from the bottom of my heart for the underlying support. I just want to thank all of you for the mail I've been receiving. It's been really helpful." The caller added, "I'm going to be out of here soon."

Rittenhouse is accused of killing two protesters and wounding a third on Aug. 25, the third night of the Kenosha riots. Violence erupted in the southern Wisconsin city after police shot Jacob Blake, a black man, on Aug. 23.

While leftists have — without evidence — resoundingly condemned Rittenhouse as a murderer and white supremacist, Elijah Shaffer of TheBlaze TV recorded an interview with Rittenhouse prior to the shootings that paints quite a different picture of the teen:

CONTEXT: I spoke with the alleged shooter earlier in the night who stated he was there to protect property He did… https://t.co/bQBG7ALvPJ
— ELIJAH RIOT (@ELIJAH RIOT)1598436810.0

Even the criminal complaint against Rittenhouse seems to read as though he acted in self-defense.

Kyle Rittenhouse breaks silence in 'tweet heard 'round the world,' lawyer says: 'I'm going to be out of here soon'



Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old facing murder charges after reportedly killing two people and wounding a third person during Kenosha, Wisconsin, riots last week, has spoken out to thank his supporters, according to his lawyer.

Rittenhouse is being tried as an adult, and faces multiple charges, including first-degree reckless homicide and attempted first-degree intentional homicide.

His lawyer, John Pierce, said Rittenhouse acted in self-defense during the riots, following Jacob Blake's police shooting on Aug. 23

What are the details?

Pierce shared video footage of a conversation he purported to be between him and Rittenhouse.

The caller can be heard on the phone saying, "I just wanna thank every single one of you from the bottom of my heart for the underlying support. I just want to thank all of you for the mail I've been receiving. It's been really helpful."

Urging his supporters to remain strong, Rittenhouse added, "I'm going to be out of here soon. "

In the video, Pierce can be heard saying, "If this is not self-defense for Kyle Rittenhouse under the circumstances, then no one can protect themselves, no one can protect their family and no one can protect their country."

"We are not going to allow a prosecutor in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to take [God-given right of self-defense] away from Kyle," he adds.

Pierce shared the footage on Twitter, captioning it, "Kyle Rittenhouse speaks[!] This must be the tweet heard 'round the world[!] Retweet and donate to the #FightBack Foundation right now[!]"

Pierce told Fox News that the person on the other end of the phone was, indeed, Rittenhouse, and compared the teenager to the shooter who fired the "shot round the world," which triggered the American Revolution.

KYLE RITTENHOUSE SPEAKS!!!!!! THIS MUST BE THE TWEET HEARD ‘ROUND THE WORLD!!!!!! RETWEET AND DONATE TO THE… https://t.co/hQtN4i7rT7
— John Pierce (@John Pierce)1599000170.0

Anything else?

Despite a Facebook ban on users sharing the link, a crowdfunding page so far has raised more than $352,000 for Rittenhouse's legal defense.

The page states, "Kyle Rittenhouse just defended himself from a brutal attack by multiple members of the far-leftist group ANTIFA — the experience was undoubtedly a brutal one, as he was forced to take two lives to defend his own."

"Now, Kyle is being unfairly charged with murder 1, by a DA who seems determined only to capitalize on the political angle of the situation," the page continues. "The situation was clearly self-defense, and Kyle and his family will undoubtedly need money to pay for the legal fees."