Defense attorney Mark Richards revealed Friday that his client Kyle Rittenhouse, now acquitted of all charges, will likely have to leave his hometown due to the overwhelming number of threats he’s received.
“He has to get on with his life, the best he can,” Richards told reporters outside the courthouse. “I don’t think he’ll continue to live in this area, I think it’s too dangerous. He’s had 24-hour security since this happened. We’re thankful that the judge protected his address.”
“Everybody in this case — and when I say that, I mean prosecution and defense — to me, it’s scary how many death threats we’ve gotten,” the attorney added. Richards said he had to stop answering his phone after receiving numerous death threats in a row.
The attorney was also asked by the press if Rittenhouse has at all been deterred about wanting to become a first responder. Richards said the teenager dreams of becoming a nurse.
Rittenhouse was charged with fatally shooting two men and injuring a third while defending himself during a riot in Kenosha, Wisconsin, sparked by the police shooting of an armed Jacob Blake.
Rittenhouse was facing life in prison with no chance at parole.
When the verdict was read, Rittenhouse became overcome with emotion and collapsed to his seat. His family, sitting behind him, cried too.
During the same presser, Richards criticized assistant prosecutor Thomas Binger. “A prosecutor is supposed to seek the truth, it’s not about winning,” the defense attorney said. “And this case became about winning, and that’s probably why it got so personal.”
Richards accused Binger of putting people on the stand he knew were lying, and criticized the prosecution for changing their narrative to “provocation” once, Richards says, their early narrative fell apart.
Richards also said he could not speak to potential civil lawsuits from Rittenhouse, emphasizing that he’s a defense attorney.
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WATCH: This is Kyle Rittenhouse reaction as all 5 not guilty verdicts were read. #KyleRittenhouse #Rittenhousetrial #Rittenhouseverdict pic.twitter.com/bngqpACL7X
— Kristen Barbaresi (@KristenBarbar) November 19, 2021
The acquittal of Rittenhouse sparked a wave of reaction online. Radio host Buck Sexton, for example, called the verdict “justice,” and praised the jury as a panel of “patriots” for refusing to be swayed by outside influence.
“Justice is alive in America! Rittenhouse not guilty on all counts!” Sexton posted to Twitter.
“Joe Biden, CNN, MSNBC, and the Democrat establishment should apologize for lying about Rittenhouse as a ‘racist’ and ‘school shooter’ and ‘white supremacist’ for months But they won’t, because they have no honor and don’t care about the destruction they constantly incite,” he wrote.
“These jurors are patriots. They chose honor, truth and love of country over the whims of the vicious Leftist mob. They risked their own safety to do so. They deserve tremendous respect- and all of us have a sacred duty to ensure their protection going forward.”
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Related: ‘Justice Is Alive’: Social Media Erupts In Reaction To Not Guilty Rittenhouse Verdict
Related: ‘No Way’ What He’s ‘Saying Is True’: Defense Attorney Takes It To Prosecution Over Video Revelation