Accused killer Kyle Rittenhouse plans to sue Biden for libel, attorney says
An attorney for Kyle Rittenhouse — who is accused of killing two protesters during demonstrations sparked by the police shooting of Jacob Blake – has announced plans to sue Joe Biden and his campaign for libel after he tweeted a video suggesting the Illinois teen is a white supremacist, according to a report.
The Democratic presidential candidate wrote in his tweet, which contains the 50-second clip, that “there’s no other way to put it: the President of the United States refused to disavow white supremacists on the debate stage last night.”
The post refers to a question Fox News host Chris Wallace asked President Trump during the presidential debate about whether he was willing “to condemn white supremacists and militia groups, and to say that they need to stand down and not add to the violence in a number of these cities.”
Wallace also cited unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin – where Blake, 29, was shot in the back by a police officer – and in Portland, Oregon. Both cities also are cited in the footage posted by Biden.
But the clip also includes an image of Rittenhouse, who has been charged with using a Smith & Wesson AR-15-style .223 rifle to kill two men and injure a third during a Black Lives Matter protest in Kenosha, where he was protecting businesses from arson and looting.
The teen’s lawyers have argued that he fired in self-defense. Wood told Fox News on Wednesday that he planned to sue the former veep and his campaign on his client’s behalf.
As of Thursday morning, Biden’s tweet garnered more than 57,000 retweets and 177,000 likes.
“On behalf of Kyle Rittenhouse, I shall sue @JoeBiden & Biden/Harris Campaign for libel,” Wood said on Twitter.
“I am partisan in 20/20 supporting @realDonaldTrump. I am non-partisan trial lawyer who aggressively pursues truth to achieve justice. Put in your hearing aid, Joe. You will hear footsteps,” he added.
Biden’s campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment.