Trump congratulated Rittenhouse on the acquittal

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Former President TrumpDonald TrumpGOP says Senate candidate Fauci is ‘mass murderer,’ should be incarcerated instead of ‘hero’ Rittenhouse Overnight Health Care-Presented by Emergent Biosolutions-Pfizer, US strike COVID-19 pill deal On The Money – House Democrats ready to Build Back Better MORE congratulated Kyle Rittenhouse after a jury found him not guilty in all cases at the conclusion of his homicide trial in Kenosha, Wis., Friday afternoon.

A jury in Kenosha acquitted Rittenhouse of all five charges filed against him, including intentional homicide. Rittenhouse was charged with first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide and two counts of first-degree recklessness endangering safety after he killed two men and injured a third in during the civil unrest in Kenosha last year.

“Congratulations to Kyle Rittenhouse for being found INNOCENT of all charges,” Trump said in a statement Friday.

“It’s called proven NOT GUILTY – And by the way, if it’s not self defense, nothing!” He added.

The teen traveled from Illinois to Kenosha after illegally buying an AR-15 from a friend and arrived as demonstrators were protesting against the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man who was shot in the back seven times by police. Blake survived the hunt, but was paralyzed by the injuries he sustained.

During the trial, which lasted nearly two weeks, the defense argued that Rittenhouse used his AR-15 in self-defense because he was attacked by protesters. His lawyers said he was on protest carrying weapons to protect small businesses from intruders, according to his testimony.

Prosecutors accused Rittenhouse of coming to Kenosha looking for trouble, and argued that the killings would not be considered self-defense if Rittenhouse had provoked the attacks.

After three and a half days of deliberation, the jury was unanimous in acquitting the young man. Rittenhouse could face life in prison if he is convicted on a count of intentional homicide.

Rittenhouse’s case was controversial, and its verdict left a nation divided over the jury’s decision. Conservative and Republican lawmakers praised the ruling Friday afternoon, with members of Congress like Madison Cawthorn (RN.C.) offering the teen an internship.

“Kyle Rittenhouse is innocent, my friends. You have the right to defend yourself, so be armed, be dangerous and be moral, ”Cawthorne said in a video posted on social media on Friday.

Critics of the decision, including Democratic lawmakers, denounced the jury’s verdict.

Derrick Johnson, the president and CEO of the NAACP, called the decision a “travesty.”

“Rittenhouse’s decision to go to Kenosha and provoke the protesters is inappropriate. Moreover, the outcome of this case sets a dangerous precedent,” Johnson said in a statement. “We have repeatedly seen the same result; a justice system that shows different results based on the race of the accused. This verdict is a reminder of the deceptive role of white supremacy and privilege within our justice system. “

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