We’ve been covering the Rittenhouse trial and I wanted to weigh in on the decision to have Kyle Rittenhouse testify.
In general, it’s not a good idea, especially with the way the trial has been going and the implosion of the prosecution’s case. Even though he may be innocent, it doesn’t mean that the prosecutor can’t twist something that he might say or lead him into saying something that could sound damaging to the jury.
It’s understandable that the defense could have done this. It’s possible that Rittenhouse insisted on testifying. They were certain he was innocent. Rittenhouse would make a persuasive witness. That’s certainly true. His testimony was excellent and he refuted many of the prosecution’s claims. The jury should believe that he is sincere, independent, and clear-headed.
But here’s the bigger problem and it’s why I wouldn’t have done it if I were representing him.
Tucker Carlson captured this during his account of today’s case. That is – they don’t play fair and the case has been political from the start with media and the politicians.
It is not supposed that the prosecution cares about politics or winning, but justice. Even if it hurts the case. But that isn’t what we saw. As the judge pointed out what we saw was multiple instances on Wednesday in which the prosecutor acted improperly – first commenting on Kyle’s silence despite his right to remain silent and then also trying to get in evidence which the judge had already ruled against. The judge said that prosecutor Thomas Binger had committed a grave constitutional violation by drawing a negative inference against Rittenhouse availing himself of his right to remain silent and the judge said he didn’t believe the prosecutor was acting in good faith when he tried to get in the evidence the judge had excluded.
A lot of politicians and media people have participated in the attack on Rittenhouse. They don’t care about facts or how it may benefit them politically. They wouldn’t care about the actual facts or testimony, so if you think you’re convincing them to understand by having him testify and that it’s going to help him in the future – they don’t care about the truth. No matter what he claims, they will make it seem wrong. They don’t want to give up the vision – the outright lie they stoked – of the evil white supremacist militia boy crossing state lines with his gigantic gun, hunting down poor protesters in the streets. It doesn’t matter if it has nothing to do with reality.
In my opinion, the defense should have left it where it was last night – with the implosion of the prosecution’s case and moved for a directed verdict. Now, perhaps they didn’t make that motion yet because they had some indication from the judge that he really didn’t want to take the case out of the hands of the jury. After today, however, the judge – who blasted the prosecution’s actions – may have some different feelings about that and about the motion the defense did in fact make, which was for a mistrial, with prejudice, which would mean that the prosecution could not re-bring the case.
This case was not one that should have been brought, as it was self-defense. Across the country you had all kinds of actual violent BLM/Antifa rioting that wasn’t prosecuted but here you had justifiable self defense action and yet that is treated like this, with media and Democratic politicians moving to crush a 17 year old.
Carlson makes this point in his excellent analysis of the case. His description of the first person shot – Joseph Rosenbaum – was one for the books.
He also talks about the testimony of Nathan DeBruin that we touched on earlier that just eviscerates the prosecution – with DeBruin replying back to ADA James Kraus that yes, the prosecution tried to get him to change his statement – more allegedly improper prosecutorial action. Carlson reminds us how the media and powers didn’t just go after Rittenhouse but went after private citizens who had the temerity to offer support to Rittenhouse. One Virginia officer lieutenant was fired because of the small donations they made to Rittenhouse. A second man showed up at Carlson’s house, calling his boss, while another one called Rittenhouse.
A trial isn’t supposed to be about politics, it’s supposed to be about the law and the facts in the case. The problem is that politicians from Joe Biden up have inappropriately politicized the matter to promote their agendas about evil white supremacists. Although it was a spectacular failure, they refuse to give any concrete evidence.
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