Rittenhouse: I Spent 87 Days in Jail Because Lin Wood, John Pierce ‘Used’ Me

OPINION | This article contains the author's opinion.

Kyle Rittenhouse said that he was “used for a cause” by his former attorneys, Lin Wood and John Pierce, which resulted in him remaining in jail longer than needed.

These comments surfaced during an interview on Fox News Channel’s “Tucker Carlson Tonight.”

Rittenhouse says Wood and Pierce were “trying to raise money so they can take it for their own benefit, not trying to set me free.”

Rittenhouse said, “I was in jail for 87 days, and this goes — this follows in with Lin Wood, who — Lin Wood was raising money on my behalf, and he held me in jail for 87 days, disrespected my wishes, put me on media interviews-which I should never have done, which he said, oh, you’re going to go talk to The Washington Post, which was not a good idea.”

“Along with John Pierce, they said I was safer in jail instead of at home with my family,” he added.

Rittenhouse continued to explain his time in jail was “87 days of not being with my family for defending myself and being taken advantage [of], being used for a cause by these — by John Pierce and Lin Wood, trying to solicit — not solicit, trying to raise money so they can take it for their own benefit, not trying to set me free.”

Since Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges, defense attorney Mark Richards has spoken about his client’s next moves.

Rittenhouse will likely have to leave his hometown due to the overwhelming number of threats he’s received.

“He has to get on with his life, the best he can,” Richards told reporters.

Rittenhouse says he has dreams of becoming a nurse, according to his attorney.

“I don’t think he’ll continue to live in this area, I think it’s too dangerous. He’s had 24-hour security since this happened.”

“We’re thankful that the judge protected his address,” he added.

“Everybody in this case — and when I say that, I mean prosecution and defense — to me, it’s scary how many death threats we’ve gotten,” the attorney added.

Richards did not speak to potential civil lawsuits from Rittenhouse since he’s a defense attorney.

Rittenhouse was found not guilty of homicide as well as four other charges. The jury agreed that Rittenhouse acted in self-defense against violent rioters, some of whom were career criminals.

A “Black Lives Matter” riot erupted in Kenosha, Wisconsin for three nights and caused roughly $50 million in damages.

Businesses were destroyed as law enforcement is accused of failing to protect people’s property. 17-year-old Rittenhouse arrived to assist a local business owner in defending his car dealership that suffered $1.5 million in damages.

The riots were sparked after a police officer shot 29-year-old Jacob Blake. Blake was armed with a knife and ignored orders from law enforcement. Blake had a warrant for his arrest for charges of third-degree sexual assault and other charges.