Kyle Rittenhouse has become a major figure in Trump’s world

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Kyle Rittenhouse entered the courtroom at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., On Monday, Nov. 8, 2021.

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Ever since he was acquitted of homicide and other charges on Friday, Kyle Rittenhouse has said he wants to stay away from politics, and he has been disturbed by how political his case has turned out.

“How polarized it has become is really offensive: Right or left, people are using me for a purpose that shouldn’t be used as an excuse,” the 18-year-old said earlier this week.

However, Rittenhouse, who argued he was acting in self-defense when he killed two people during protests last year in Kenosha, Wisconsin, emerged as a symbolic figure for the pro-Trump right wing as the former presidents are considered to run again and hold power by issuing endorsements to various major Republican races.

Some prominent conservatives worked to make a hero out of Rittenhouse, armed with an AR-15-style rifle in the streets of Kenosha during protests that erupted after police shot Black man Jacob Blake. Rittenhouse made comments about politics and polarization on Tucker Carlson’s Fox News show, which had a crew embedded in the Rittenhouse team during his trial. He appeared alongside Republican operatives in the photos, and he personally met Donald Trump at the former president’s private Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.

A key character in Rittenhouse’s post-acquittal life is Jillian Anderson, a former Fox News guest booker who once participated in “The Bachelor.” A former cheerleader for the team now known as the Washington Football Team, she is currently a self-employed booker, producer, publicist and director of communications, according to her LinkedIn page.

Anderson was photographed next to Rittenhouse at a Florida restaurant after he was acquitted. He was also pictured in another group that included Carlson and subsequent other photos. Almost all of these photos were posted on Anderson’s social media pages.

Jillian Anderson in “Bachelor in Paradise.”

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“I work with the team,” Anderson told CNBC in a Twitter message after he was asked about his role at Rittenhouse. He then asked CNBC to email him. Since then, Anderson has not responded to numerous requests for comment.

Mark Richards, an attorney for Rittenhouse, told CNBC that “I haven’t met w/ o talked to Jillian Anderson.”

Anderson has been linked to Trump and his conservative allies for years. He was recently paid more than $ 10,000 for media relations consulting by a political action committee supporting Josh Mandel’s Ohio Senate campaign, according to Federal Election Commission records reviewed by CNBC. The committee called Team Josh and paid Anderson for what was described as “consulting on media relations.” Anderson posted a split screen photo on his Twitter page this week, along with another featuring Mandel holding a laptop. Mandel called Rittenhouse an “American hero” and “role model.”

Anderson and Rittenhouse also recently got alongside Adam Waldeck, who worked on former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s presidential campaign in 2012 before running two right -leaning groups that did not publicly disclose their donors. One of those organizations targeted Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election before changing its name to 1776 Action to focus on fighting critical education in race theory. Waldeck appeared in a photo with Rittenhouse posted on Anderson’s social media.

Anderson is related to Trump’s other allies. The conservative publication The Federalist listed Anderson as an Ambassador of Turning Point USA and the Falkirk Center. Turning Point USA, founded by longtime Trump supporter Charlie Kirk, advocates for conservative voices on school campuses.

The Falkirk Center is a think tank supported by evangelical Liberty University. It was both founded by Kirk and Jerry Falwell Jr., who resigned as president of Liberty University following various scandals. Kirk left the think tank this year. The Falkirk Center podcasts, according to The Bulwark, are a source of various conspiracy theories, including those questioning the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Anderson boasts a photo that he appreciates Jack Posobiec, a longtime right-wing operative and activist, for what he describes as his “behind the scenes schemes.”

“Over the past 12+ months, @jackmposobiec has been one of the best front men for many of my behind the scenes schemes. I appreciate you bro!” he said in a previous Instagram post.

Another photo on Anderson’s Instagram page shows him at an event in November at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago. The gathering was to celebrate the America First Policy Institute, a nonprofit think tank created to promote some of Trump’s preferred policies. The event featured Trump himself and photos show Anderson having many allies with Trump, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, RS.C., and Rep. Madison Cawthorn, RN.C. Cawthorn belongs to a group of conservative lawmakers who say Rittenhouse could work for his office.

“Congratulations to @a1policy [America First Policy Institute] at a great event and continues to keep America First. #MAGAA, “Anderson’s Instagram post reads.

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