Rittenhouse Lawyer Slams 'Idiot' Don Jr. And 'Disgusting' GOP For Trying To Cash In On Client's Celebrity

Mark Richards, a defense attorney for Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse, called Donald Trump Jr. an "idiot" in response to a since-deleted tweet from Trump Jr. announcing Gun Owners of America—a gun rights organization—will award Rittenhouse an AR-15.

Richards said he doesn't "have to expand on that," adding Trump Jr.'s behavior "speaks for itself."

But Richards went further, criticizing the "disgusting" Republican Party for trying to cash in on Rittenhouse's notoriety after he was acquitted of all charges relating to the fatal shootings of Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and injuring Gaige Grosskreutz during the Kenosha unrest, which took place after police officers shot Jacob Blake, an unarmed Black man, in the back leaving him partially paralyzed.

Speaking to Business Insider, Richards said:

"There's a lot of people trying to profit on this, and I don't think people should. They're raising money on it, and you have all these Republican congressmen saying come work for me."

"They want to trade on his celebrity, and I think it's disgusting."

Richards' statements referred to separate announcements from Republican Representatives Madison Cawthorn (North Carolina), Paul Gosar (Arizona) and Matt Gaetz (Florida) indicating their offices would offer Rittenhouse a position as a congressional intern.

Gosar, in particular, said he would "arm wrestle" Gaetz to "get dibs for Rittenhouse as an intern" and suggested elsewhere Rittenhouse should be granted the congressional Medal of Honor.

Rittenhouse's notoriety galvanized his supporters and family members who have used the issues surrounding his trial as an opportunity to fundraise. Similarly, The New York Times reported political fundraisers on either side of the aisle have based appeals to their donors on the Rittenhouse trial.

Richards' statements attracted considerable attention, with many joining in his criticism of the Republican Party glorifying the killing of two men.

In a separate interview with CNN, Richards also noted he did not approve of Tucker Carlson's Fox News film crew following Rittenhouse and his legal team around to film footage for a documentary.

Richards called the film crew a "definite distraction" and noted he threw the film crew "out of the room several times."

The documentary is expected to air on Carlson's show Monday night.