Kyle Rittenhouse warned that “accountability [is] coming soon” for media companies who allegedly defamed him after he shot multiple people in self-defense during riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin last year.
“There’s going to be some media accountability coming soon,” Rittenhouse told Fox News on Tuesday.
When asked by Fox News about his thoughts on Nick Sandmann’s recent settlement with a major network for its potentially defamatory reporting on his viral encounter with demonstrator Nathan Phillips in 2019, Rittenhouse said, “Good for him.”
In November, the judge presiding over the trial of Rittenhouse slammed the media during proceedings, saying the “grossly irresponsible” coverage of the trial is “really quite frightening.”
“When I talked about problems with the media, when this trial started, we were there in part — not fully but in part — because of grossly irresponsible handling of what comes out of this trial,” Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Bruce Schroeder had said.
“I will tell you this,” Judge Schroeder continued, “I’m going to think long and hard about live television at trial again next time. I don’t know. I’ve always been a firm believer in it because I believe the people should be able to see what’s going on, but when I see what’s being done, it’s really quite frightening. Frightening, that’s the right word for it.”
A compilation of media figures commenting on the trial circulated on Twitter, showing reporters, anchors, and guests referring to Rittenhouse as a “domestic terrorist,” “deeply racist,” and someone who “murdered two people.”
The video has amassed more than half a million views.
In his first interview since being acquitted, Rittenhouse also addressed being called a “white supremacist” by President Joe Biden last year – a move Rittenhouse said amounted to “actual malice” that defamed his character.
“What did you make of the President of the United States calling you a ‘white supremacist?’” Fox News host Tucker Carlson asked Rittenhouse.
“Mr. President, if I could say one thing to you, I would urge you to go back and watch the trial, and understand the facts before you make a statement,” Rittenhouse said.
“That’s not a small thing to be called that,” Carlson commented.
“No, it’s actual malice, defaming my character, for him to say something like that,” Rittenhouse responded.
Also in November, a 12-person jury found Rittenhouse, 18, not guilty of all five charges after some 26 hours of deliberations over four days. He was initially charged with one misdemeanor and five felonies: first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, and possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18.
