John Pierce, a civil attorney representing Kyle Rittenhouse who is accused of fatally shooting two protestors and injuring a third in August, withdrew from the criminal case against him following allegations of a financial conflict of interest.
Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger filed a motion in court on Thursday (December 3) that claims Pierce may use fundraisers to pay off personal debts, according to a report by ABC News.
“Money that should be held in trust for the defendant may instead be used to repay attorney Pierce’s numerous creditors,” Binger wrote.
Prosecutors in the criminal case became more skeptical of the Los Angeles-based civil lawyer’s fundraising efforts after his “significant personal financial difficulties” were revealed. They say he could personally benefit from the fundraising and open the door for “self-dealing and fraud.”
A report by the Chicago Tribune that Pierce targeted right wing political groups for money. Pierce withdrew from the criminal case, but stated he will oversee Rittenhouse’s civil cases including the defamation cases he faces.
He tweeted about the withdrawal and change.
Rittenhouse’s arraignment is scheduled for January 5. He posted $2 million bail after spending a little over two months in prison.
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