KENOSHA, WI- (Wisconsin Radio Network) – The Kenosha County jury returned “Not Guilty” verdicts on all counts in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial around noon Friday. The 18-year-old Rittenhouse faced five felony charges in the shooting of three men during the Kenosha riots last year. Two of the men died. Rittenhouse testified that he shot the men in self defense.
Partisan reaction from Wisconsin politicians to the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse on all charges in the August 2020 shootings in Kenosha. Republican Senator Ron Johnson said in a statement, “I believe justice has been served in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial. I hope everyone can accept the verdict, remain peaceful, and let the community of Kenosha heal and rebuild.” Democratic Governor Tony Evers wrote, “no verdict will be able to bring back the lives of Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum, or heal Gaige Grosskreutz’s injuries, just as no verdict can heal the wounds or trauma experienced by Jacob Blake and his family.” Congresswoman Gwen Moore tweeted, ” a system that legitimizes vigilante murder is deeply broken.” G-O-P Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said, “today’s unanimous verdict may be shocking for some, but for many others, it is proof that our justice system works.”
The judge in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial is praising the Kenosha County jury for the job it did. Judge Bruce Schroeder told members, “you were a wonderful jury to work with, you were punctual, you were attentive.” Schroeder said jurors don’t have to talk about the case. Eleven of the jurors are reportedly white and one is a man of color. The protests last August were in response to the Kenosha police shooting of Jacob Blake, a black man. His uncle, Justin, was angry with today’s verdict and said the judge was biased and “gave Rittenhouse a pass.”
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