California Attorney Withdraws From Rittenhouse Criminal Case After Ethical Concerns
John Pierce, a California attorney representing 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, has stepped away from the defense team after prosecutors raised ethical concerns about Pierce.
Rittenhouse is facing murder charges after fatally shooting two people and wounding another during the Kenosha protest that gained national attention this past summer in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Rittenhouse was one of several armed citizens who claim they were out guarding and protecting businesses from looting and rioting. The teen found himself in the national spotlight when an altercation between protesters and Rittenhouse turned deadly as captured by various cell phone video shot by bystanders that evening. Rittenhouse is seen being chased by protesters in several videos, to which Rittenhouse responds by firing off rounds from his AR-15 style weapon.
Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, died after being hit with Rittenhouse's weapon. A third victim, Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, was wounded. Rittenhouse faces several charges, including first-degree intentional homicide, attempted intentional homicide, and underage possession of a firearm. If convicted, he could face life behind bars.
Assistant DA Files Motion Against Pierce
The Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney, Thomas Binger, filed a motion last week that labels Pierce as a conflict of interest in the case. Binger points to public records and other news sources that allege Pierce has “personal financial difficulties.”
According to the assistant district attorney, Pierce’s involvement in the case, specifically, the financials, presents a conflict of interest because the Los Angeles lawyer could fraudulently use the money collected on behalf of the teen to pay back his own numerous creditors.
After Rittenhouse was arrested in his hometown of Illinois, one day after and about 30 minutes away from where the shootings took place, he was extradited to Wisconsin. Not long after, his bail was set at $2 Million. Conservative groups and prominent conservative figures quickly came to the teen’s defense. Along with conservative groups around the nation, actor Ricky Schroder allegedly donated $150,000 to Rittenhouse's fund. The CEO of My Pillow, Mike Lindell, also donated to the teen's cause.
Pierce Paints Rittenhouse as a Conservative Hero
Like many of Rittenhouse's supporters, Pierce quickly came to the teen's defense after the allegations against him made national news. The teen's legal team, spearheaded by Pierce, put out a press release that read in part, “Kyle is not a racist or a white supremacist. He is a brave, compassionate, law-abiding American who loves his country and his community.”
The press release also expressed that supporters of the teen could donate on behalf of his defense through the official fundraising page set up by the #FightBack Foundation. This is the same foundation that is currently fighting back against the results of the 2020 election.
In response to Pierce’s adamant call to action for monetary support for the teen, Binger raises the following concern in the motion filed, "Given own substantial personal debts, his involvement with an unregulated and opaque ‘slush fund’ provides ample opportunity for self-dealing and fraud. The more that the Foundation raises in donations, the more he may personally benefit."
Binger goes on to add that any donations that are collected for the teen's legal defense should be put into a trust so that the money does not end up being misused by Pierce.
In the motion, Binger points to court records that show Pierce had no income in 2019 but had monthly expenses that amounted to just over $49,000. In addition to his personal expenses, Pierce owed over $1.2 million in other debts to various creditors. Records also show that Pierce was sued in July. The lawsuit was over a rental agreement breach on a $1.3 million home in Ventura County, California.
On Thursday, after the Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney filed his motion regarding Pierce's conflict of interest, Pierce shared a statement on Twitter that read, “Effective immediately I am taking over all civil matters for Kyle including his future defamation claims. I will also be orchestrating all fundraising for defense costs. The terrific Mark Richards will proceed in Wisconsin.”
Attorney Mark Richards is set to take over the fundraising for Rittenhouse's defense. On the same day that Pierce released his statement on Twitter, a Kenosha County judge announced that Rittenhouse's case would head to trial.
