Kyle Rittenhouse lawyer steps away from criminal case, hours after prosecutors allege fundraising
Source: Chicago Tribune
KENOSHA, WIS. — An attorney for Kyle Rittenhouse indicated Thursday that he’d pull back from the teen’s criminal defense, hours after prosecutors in Wisconsin sought to block him from participating and alleged in a court filing that his involvement with a fundraising effort “provides ample opportunity for self-dealing and fraud.”
Los Angeles civil lawyer John M. Pierce has been the public face of the 17-year-old’s defense against a murder charge and other counts in the three months since the teen fatally shot two men and wounded a third during summer protests in Kenosha. He also has been an enthusiastic fundraiser, helping to secure $2 million for his client’s bail.
Prosecutors, however, have grown increasingly critical of Pierce’s frequent out-of-court statements and fundraising efforts, which have been aimed at the political right.
In a motion filed Thursday morning, Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger cited public records and news reports as he alleged that Pierce has “significant personal financial difficulties” and argued that he should not be allowed to represent Rittenhouse because “money that should be held in trust for the defendant may instead be used to repay attorney Pierce’s numerous creditors.”
Read more: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-kyle-rittenhouse-court-hearing-kenosha-shooting-20201203-nb5su6pmobg77gktohqqwxfm44-story.html
Full title to the article: Kyle Rittenhouse lawyer steps away from criminal case, hours after prosecutors allege fundraising effort ‘provides ample opportunity for self-dealing and fraud’
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