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'Kyle Rittenhouse for Congress': GOP Rep Anthony Sabatini's tweet has Internet demanding his resignation

'I’d note that Anthony Sabatini said the quiet part out loud here, but there is no quiet part with the Republican Party: they’re openly criminal,' one user noted

Florida Republican Rep. Anthony Sabatini was slammed on social media after he suggested that Kyle Rittenhouse, who was recently released from jail, should run for Congress. The 17-year-old teen gunman has been accused of killing two people on August 25 during the Kenosha protests when people protested the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin. 

"KYLE RITTENHOUSE FOR CONGRESS" Sabatini wrote on Twitter, leading to multiple calls for his resignation. 

His tweet drew an array of reactions on the internet. "Ted Bundy for Senate!" one person wrote, while another quipped, "Your family must be soooooo proud." Another said, "'State Rep., Dist. #32 FL' Florida man recommending person currently awaiting trial for two first degree murders and one first degree attempted murder as a perfect candidate for public office." One more remarked, "I’d note that Anthony Sabatini said the quiet part out loud here, but there is no quiet part with the Republican Party: they’re openly criminal."

Someone else opined, "That would be a hard NO. 1. He is charged with murder and assault. 2. He is 17." One more person wrote, "It probably shouldn't surprise us that a man who thinks it appropriate for a teenage boy to appoint himself as a riot control officer would also think him suitable for service in Congress." Another wrote, "The people demand your resignation. Now!" 

The next added, "One thing I like about Twitter. It lets us know how truly demented some politicians are." While another mentioned, "Well, since charles manson and jeffery dahmer aren't available, I guess this is your next best option." One more suggested, "I could not be more devastated that you are in a position of power." A person wrote, "He’ll fit right in with your caucus."

Rittenhouse participated in a jailhouse interview with the Washington Post and revealed that the government payout bought his gun. He had shared, "I got my $1,200 from the coronavirus Illinois unemployment 'cause I was on furlough from YMCA."

"I got my first unemployment check so I was like 'oh, I'll use this to buy it'," he added. According to statements made to the police, a family friend and Kenosha resident Dominic Black bought the rifle for Rittenhouse in the spring of 2020. Given that he was a minor, he was only allowed to shoot it for target practice under adult supervision but was not permitted to own or carry the weapon under Wisconsin law. 

Black spoke to authorities and said that Rittenhouse would keep the gun at his father's house and they would only take it out to go hunting "up north". He added that Rittenhouse's mother, Wendy, was supposed to get a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card and that the rifle would be transferred to her, according to his police statements. 

Last month, prosecutors shared that Rittenhouse had never possessed the gun used in the shooting. Rittenhouse said that he and Black were going to have the ownership transferred to Rittenhouse when he came of age. While speaking to The Post, he said, "No, I don't regret [carrying a gun that night]. I feel I had to protect myself."

"I would have died that night if I didn’t," he added. He shared that he and Black had intended on helping a friend Nick Smith who told them a local car dealership Car Source needed help protecting their business from people who were rioting.