MADISON, Wis (AP) – An 18-year-old Illinois man accused of killing two people and wounding a third during a police riot in Wisconsin last summer fired a California lawyer for money asked for his case.
Los Angeles attorney John Pierce was at the helm of Kyle Rittenhouse’s defense and helped raise money from conservatives to place Rittenhouse’s $ 2 million bail in November. He also hired attorney Mark Richards to handle the proceedings in Wisconsin.
Rittenhouse, who was then white and then 17, is accused of shooting three people in Kenosha in August, while hundreds of police protested against Jacob Blake, a black man. Rittenhouse, who came from his home in nearby Antioch, Illinois, to Kenosha, claimed they attacked him and he shot in self-defense.
A judge is considering issuing a new arrest warrant for Rittenhouse after prosecutors said he violated his bail conditions. Prosecutors allege that he did not notify the court of a change of address within 48 hours of moving.
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Pierce removed himself from Rittenhouse’s criminal case in December after prosecutors claimed Pierce had ‘significant financial problems’ and should not be allowed to raise money for Rittenhouse. He remained Rittenhouse’s attorney on civil matters
Rittenhouse fans tweeted on their FreeKyleUSA account on Thursday that Rittenhouse fired Pierce Monday morning. Pierce confirmed and tweeted so much that he fought Rittenhouse with “every fiber” of his being.
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Another tweet on FreeKyleUSA said Rittenhouse had hired another Los Angeles attorney, Robert Barnes. Barnes confirmed the rent on Twitter Thursday night.
“Happy to join the #KyleRittenhouse team. Kid is innocent, and everyone knows it,” Barnes tweeted.