Kyle Rittenhouse's family sells $43 'Free Kyle' bikinis, $40 sports bras to fund Kenosha shooter's legal defense
The family of Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse is selling "Free Kyle" merch on the FreeKyleUsa.com to fund his murder trial defense which includes a $43 bikini. The 17-year-old Rittenhouse from Antioch, Illinois, faces charges for the murder of Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and for the attempted murder of Gaige Grosskreutz, also 26. The shootings happened in the wake of protests following the police shooting of Jacob Blake on August 23, which saw the victim being left paralyzed. Rittenhouse had arrived at the protests with an AR-15 rifle but his lawyer, Mark Richards, insists he had acted in self-defense.
The website contains an array of "Free Kyle" merchandise for anyone who wishes to support the teen and help fund his legal defense. These include $26 crop tops, $40 sports bras, $18 mugs, $20 face masks and $45 men's running top, reports the Daily Mail. However, the sale of the merch has hit a slight snag as the family is now claiming that their printer placed unfulfilled orders on hold due to "one complaint." "We had over 400 orders. This is what they fear so much," the website says. "...We won't be stopped. We'll email you when we're back," the announcement continues. As a result, supporters of the teen might have to wait for the merch to become available again.
Wendy Rittenhouse, the teen's mother is currently running the website and she has announced that in a statement that all of the money raised on it, via merch sales or donations, will go toward defending her son at trial. "We estimate Kyle's defense costs for trial to be approximately $2 to $2.5million and after turning over $2million ... cash bail we are essentially starting at zero," Wendy's statement says. "We still have a long way to go. I know in my heart Kyle will be acquitted." The website has so far raised nearly $58,000 in donations.
Previously, we reported that a range of products including T-shirts, hoodies, stickers, mugs, iPhone covers and laptop sleeves were available with the words 'FreeKyle', with some of the clothing items also carrying the slogan "self-defense is a right not a privilege." Alongside outlining Rittenhouse's claims of defense, the website points out how he had arrived at the scene and "volunteered to help protect local businesses." The website goes on to claim that Rittenhouse was "attacked" and so "was forced to defend his life," adding that the "God-given and Constitutional right to self-defense is now on trial in Kenosha, Wisconsin."
John Pierce, representing Rittenhouse in civil cases, has clarified that the proceeds from the merchandise will go solely to the defense costs. "As I have said repeatedly, yes, all proceeds of FreeKyleUSA.com will be held in trust and controlled by Kyle's mom for defense fees and costs. There is no profit being made," he said, according to Madison.com, as Rittenhouse awaits arraignment on January 5 in Kenosha County Circuit Court.
Rittenhouse's case has sparked further controversy surrounding gun laws and racial violence with the Black Lives Matter supporters dubbing him a white vigilante who tried to instigate violence during an already volatile situation. Gun rights activists, on the other hand, insist he was there to help law enforcement protect people and property.