Judge Cuts Proud Boys Connection As Evidence In Rittenhouse Trial

KENOSHA, WI — A meeting that prosecutors say Kyle Rittenhouse attended with members of the Proud Boys can't be used as evidence as his upcoming trial, a Kenosha judge ruled Friday.

Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger asked to use Rittenhouse's the Jan. 14 meeting, which took place at a Racine bar, as evidence in front of a jury.

Rittenhouse, 18, is charged with multiple counts of intentional homicide, reckless endangerment and possessing a firearm as a minor in connection with the shooting deaths of two people at a protest in Kenosha.

He is accused of shooting and killing Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and wounding Gaige Grosskreutz, 26. Rittenhouse will appear in court on Nov. 1.

Binger said the meeting with the far right group shows Rittenhouse's mindset leading up to him shooting two protesters and wounding a third on Aug. 25, 2020.

Kenosha Judge Bruce Shroeder denied the request, saying it was too far removed from the shootings.

"I would certainly keep the door open if you can show me that there's any connection between [Rittenhouse] and the [Proud Boys,]" Shroeder said, "But if this organization embraces him after the fact, because of his behavior, that is not something the jury can make anything out of that would be lawful."

The judge also withheld his decision on using a video that appears to show Rittenhouse threatening strangers as they walked out of a CVS pharmacy before the shootings in August 2020.

A man prosecutors identify as Rittenhouse is heard saying,"Bro, I wish I had my [expletive] AR, I'd start shooting rounds at them." Rittenhouse isn't visible in the video, but prosecutors said it would be crucial evidence.

Protests started in Kenosha in late august after the police shooting of a Black man. Jacob Blake, 29, was paralyzed after Kenosha police officer Rusten Sheskey shot him seven times in the back.

See Also: Prosecutors Seek Video Of Separate Rittenhouse Incident: Report