Rittenhouse Lawyer Quits Criminal Case After Prosecutors Imply Fundraising Grift
Tyler Durden
Fri, 12/04/2020 – 13:00
A criminal defense attorney for 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse has stepped back from the case after prosecutors raised questions over his links to an “unregulated slush fund” for the teen, according to the Chicago Tribune.
On Thursday, hours after prosecutors sought to block Los Angeles civil lawyer John M. Pierce from representing Rittenhouse against a murder charge and other counts stemming from an August 25 shooting incident in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Racine lawyer Mark Richards told the Tribune in an email that “I will be counsel for Kyle in the criminal matters,” while Pierce (and his colleague, Andrew Calderon) “won’t be.“
Pierce, who prosecutors say had no income last year, monthly expenses of $49,581, and debt of $1.2 million, was sued in July over allegations that he failed to pay rent on a $1.3 million home in Ventura County, California.
“This creates a potential conflict of interest for attorney Pierce,” states the motion. “Given his own substantial personal debts, his involvement with an unregulated and opaque ‘slush fund’ provides ample opportunity for self-dealing and fraud. The more that the Foundation raises in donations, the more he may personally benefit. Money that should be held in trust for the defendant may instead be used to repay attorney Pierce’s numerous creditors.”
In a motion filed Thursday morning, Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger cited public records and news reports as he alleged that Pierce has “significant personal financial difficulties” and argued that he should not be allowed to represent Rittenhouse because “money that should be held in trust for the defendant may instead be used to repay attorney Pierce’s numerous creditors.”
…
The prosecution’s motion raised questions about the #FightBack Foundation, a group that served as the online fundraising arm for Rittenhouse’s defense. The foundation, which is now focused on challenging the presidential election results, took credit for raising the $2 million needed to free the teen on bail last month.
Prosecutors described it as “an unregulated and unreported slush fund” with close ties to Pierce. He helped start the foundation a few weeks before the Kenosha shootings, but he has told the Tribune he stepped away from its board to avoid any conflicts related to his involvement in the Rittenhouse case. –Chicago Tribune
In Setpember, Pierce claimed he was going to step away from the #FightBack Foundation to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest.
FYI, just stepped off official #FightBack Foundation board to 100% focus on freeing Kyle and avoid any appearance of $$ conflict. All good. #FightBack #FreeKyleRittennhouse #fakenews #USA https://t.co/Nuhkhqyf7D
— John Pierce (@CaliKidJMP) September 5, 2020
Hours after the prosecution filed its motion, however, Pierce tweeted “Effective immediately I am taking over all civil matters for Kyle including his future defamation claims. I will also be orchestrating all fundraising for defense costs. The terrific Mark Richards will proceed in Wisconsin.”
So that it does not take Kyle’s supporters by surprise, effective immediately I am taking over all civil matters for Kyle including his future defamation claims. I will also be orchestrating all fundraising for defense costs. The terrific Mark Richards will proceed in Wisconsin.
— John Pierce (@CaliKidJMP) December 3, 2020
Pierce’s partner in the #FightBack foundation is Rittenhouse attorney Lin Wood of Georgia – who tweeted last week that the foundation had “successfully raised $2M cash bail for Kyle Rittenhouse & funded over $300K for his attorney’s fees & expenses. The foundation used approx. $400K of its general funds for Kyle.”
2. #FightBack also donated $100K to #WalkAway & $20K to @carterwpage.
I donate my time pro bono & take no compensation for my efforts on behalf of #FightBack.
The foundation is dedicated to helping preserve, protect & defend our Constitutional rights.
— Lin Wood (@LLinWood) November 29, 2020
Read the rest of the report here.
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