The jury is currently deliberating in the murder trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, the then-17 year old who drove to Kenosha, Wisconsin during unrest after the shooting of Jacob Blake by police. Claiming he went to protect property and provide medical help, Rittenhouse shot three people with his AR-15, killing two of them in what his lawyers insist was an act of self defense.
Earlier this year, just hours after a court hearing, Rittenhouse was spotted at a bar taking pictures with fans, wearing a "free as f**k" tee shirt and flashing a hand signal co-opted by white supremacists.
Rittenhouse's vigilantism and apparent lack of remorse have made him a hero of the far-right. At least one chapter of the "western chauvinist" hate group, Proud Boys, sells flags approvingly depicting Rittenhouse's killings. A Republican congressional candidate likened Rittenhouse to Captain America.
And now, far-right Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida has floated employing Rittenhouse at the United States Capitol as a congressional intern.
Watch below.
Matt Gaetz wants to hire Kyle Rittenhouse as a congressional intern. pic.twitter.com/LvmXFFgt5v
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) November 18, 2021
Appearing on the right-wing disinformation outlet Newsmax, Gaetz told host Grant Stinchfield:
"Kyle Rittenhouse would probably make a pretty good congressional intern. We may reach out to him and see if he'd be interested in helping the country in additional ways."
Gaetz, who is currently under investigation for his potential role in the sex trafficking of a minor, is known for taking audacious positions in his embrace of right-wing nationalism.
But his latest screed in support of Rittenhouse earned immediate backlash.
Republicans are trash...
Here's example #236,327 https://t.co/3v22tVkff7
— CA-BLUE-in-Columbus-OH (@CABLUEinColumb1) November 18, 2021
Racism still alive they not even concealing it 😒 https://t.co/y24pWrehHl
— Your Highness (@Onlygodislove) November 18, 2021
This Matt Gaetz? https://t.co/XqBWD79zk0 pic.twitter.com/fKmnYF1nFB
— Quality Guy Rick (@AnothrAtName) November 18, 2021
“We might reach out to him and see if he'd be interested in helping the country IN ADDITIONAL WAYS"
Matt Gaetz has always been a monster but this is next level shit right here. https://t.co/4UtkVH1tsS
— Ash (@AshC0Ol) November 18, 2021
Umm wow Is it me or does it seem the more outrageous and inappropriate things GOP members do the more popular they become. How do we go back to a level of decorum we can take pride in looking up to https://t.co/mpJNDua4nR
— The Realist (@ExplicitRealist) November 18, 2021
If you didn't know who Matt Gaetz was as a person before today, well here you go. 🤮
pic.twitter.com/khIq1E1N4G
— George Wrighster III (@georgewrighster) November 18, 2021
Sadly, few were surprised at Gaetz's antics.
Nothing surprises me anymore https://t.co/ZMSOyrsgmU
— James Scott lives on land stolen from Muscogee N (@Jscott1145) November 18, 2021
of course he does. I bet he even has the white sheets that fit rittenhouse perfectly https://t.co/Db99gP3zNA
— Talking Pictures (@TalkingPicture1) November 18, 2021
And why not?
He hired Darren Beattie after he was fired by Trump due to his white nationalist ties.
He took a Holocaust denier to the State of the Union.
He's under investigation for sex trafficking & other crimes.
There is no bottom for Matt Gaetz. https://t.co/fft8qe7OLA
— HG Tomato 🍅 Wash Your Hands (@HGTomato) November 18, 2021
The jury's deliberations are ongoing.
