'Fox News Primetime' host says media is playing the blame game during Kyle Rittenhouse trial

Former Hawaii congresswoman reacts to the Kyle Rittenhouse trial and the country's political divide on 'Fox News Primetime'

Kyle Rittenhouse's mother joins 'Hannity' to discuss the response to her son's case

Co-hosts of "The View" on Thursday accused Kyle Rittenhouse of faking when he sobbed on the stand this week. ABC News / Screenshot

The co-hosts of "The View" savaged Kyle Rittenhouse Thursday after his emotional testimony claiming self-defense when he shot and killed two people in Kenosha, Wis., saying he had "murdered" two people and fake-cried on the stand.

Sunny Hostin, a former prosecutor and ABC News' senior legal correspondent, said the outcome of the trial would be a "bellwether" for the country.

Read more here.

Former federal prosecutor discusses the implications of Judge Bruce Schroeder admonishing prosecution during Kyle Rittenhouse trial in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on 'Fox News @ Night'

Kyle Rittenhouse testifies Wednesday at his trial in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Defense attorneys representing Kyle Rittenhouse, who is accused of fatally shooting two men and wounding a third in Kenosha, Wisconsin, rested its case on Thursday in the divisive murder trial, setting the stage for closing arguments early next week.

The jury is expected to begin deliberating as early as Monday over Rittenhouse's fate related to the Aug. 25, 2020, shootings during fiery unrest in Kenosha. Rittenhouse’s lawyers wrapped their side of the case during the ninth day of trial – just one day after their client took the stand for hours of testimony.

Read more here.

Twitter cracked down on a tweet shared by the Libertarian Party of Kentucky for allegedly violating its policies while siding with Kyle Rittenhouse amid the murder trial. 

There has been a political divide on the 2020 Kenosha shooting that left two dead and another injured as many on the left believe Rittenhouse was actively seeking trouble at the riots sparked from the police-involved shooting of Jacob Blake while many on the right believe Rittenhouse was acting in self-defense based on evidence and witness testimony. 

Read more here.

Law professor Jonathan Turley says he has yet to see any real prosecutorial strategy in the Kyle Rittenhouse murder trial.

Kyle Rittenhouse, left, and defense attorney Corey Chirafisi confer during Rittenhouse's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Thursday. (Mark Hertzberg/Pool Photo via AP)

The Chicago Police Department has canceled one regular day off this weekend for all full-duty officers to "enhance public safety," a decision reportedly made to brace for possible upheaval ahead of a potential verdict in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse in Wisconsin.

"To enhance public safety and to address current crime patterns, all full-duty sworn members will have one regular day off canceled this upcoming weekend between November 12, 2021 through November 14, 2021," the Chicago Police Department told Fox News in an emailed statement.

Yale Law School alumni Vivek Ramaswamy applauds the judge in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial for getting tough on the prosecutor's 'bad behavior' during his cross-examination.

The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department and the Kenosha Police Department say they have been monitoring the Kyle Rittenhouse trial and will continue to do so.

“We recognize that some varying opinions and feelings revolve around the trial that may cause concerns,” a press release reads. “Both of our departments have dedicated staff working in conjunction with local, State, and Federal law enforcement partners to ensure the safety of our communities.” 

Judge Bruce Schroeder closes the introduction of evidence, indicating that all testimony in this trial is complete.

Schroeder and both sides are now discussing plans for closing arguments, which are expected to be made on Monday. Judge rules that each side will be allotted two-and-a-half hours for their arguments.

The jury has been excused until Monday morning. According to Fox News' Jiovanni Lieggi, who has been present in the courtroom, the defense and prosecution teams will still be in court on Friday to go over jury instructions.

Defense attorneys Mark Richards and Corey Chirafisi, listen as defense witness Frank Hernandez is cross examined during Kyle Rittenhouse's trial about the video he took on the night of Aug. 25, 2020, at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. (Mark Hertzberg/Pool Photo via AP)

Defense attorney Mark Richards, one of two people representing Kyle Rittenhouse, says the defense has rested its case.

The prosecution has said they plan to call at least one rebuttal witness. They had planned for only one, but announced just moments ago that they hope to call two more witnesses in an apparent attempt to discredit the defendant.

State first calls rebuttal witness James Armstrong to the stand. Armstrong works as a senior forensic imaging specialist with the Milwaukee Crime Lab and is being asked about photographs that will be admitted into evidence.

Armstrong's testimony is complete after about 20 minutes on the stand. During that time he testifies as to whether a photograph is distorted when it expanded or zoomed in, and if so how.

The prosecution said the two other potential witnesses include: Someone from a police department where Rittenhouse said he obtained his bulletproof vest; and someone from a university where Rittenhouse has said he is enrolled.

Defense has said they plan to rest their case after a brief break, which is expected to end at 2:45 p.m. CT / 3:45 p.m. ET.

Prosecutors said they have plan to call one person to the stand for rebuttal, which they expect might take 10 minutes. 

John Black, use-of-force expert, testifies during Kyle Rittenhouse's trail at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool)

Prosecutor Thomas Binger has called Dr. John Black back to the stand to question him further about his analysis of video and audio from the night of the shooting, Aug. 25, 2020.

Defense attorney Richards then takes another turn questioning Dr. Black.

Black's testimony is complete after approximately 20 minutes back on the stand.

The defense has indicated Black was their last witness.

Bernhard Goetz seen leaving a New York City court in this undated photo. (Photo by Rick Maiman/Sygma via Getty Images)

EXCLUSIVE – The ongoing murder trial for Kyle Rittenhouse, the man facing charges for fatally shooting two people and wounding a third in Kenosha, Wisconsin, is "a sham at best," New York City "subway vigilante" Bernhard Goetz told Fox News Digital.

Goetz, who argued self-defense after shooting four teenagers, who were Black, in 1984, spoke to Fox News Digital's Andrew Murray by phone on Thursday morning, when he questioned if the purpose of the trial was "to satisfy a mob." 

"Someone has already hit you with a skateboard, and someone else is pointing a gun at you and they are shouting that they are going to kill you. You also have a gun, wouldn’t you start pointing your gun at them?" he asked.

Read more here.

Trial resumes after a lunch break. Judge Schroeder overrules the defense's objection to Prosecutor Binger's mention of Hernandez's legal representation as potential bias. Binger is allowed to ask Hernandez about that.

Binger also asks Hernandez if he has posted public messages of support in Rittenhouse on social media. After some back-and-forth, Hernandez concedes to the notion that some might see his messages as messages of support for Rittenhouse.

Binger then questions Hernandez about his social media activity in which he calls Rittenhouse by his first name, but calls Joseph Rosenbaum by his last name or as "Mr. Rosenbaum."

Binger asks Hernandez about his characterization that Rittenhouse tried to de-escalate the unrest. He then turns back to Hernandez's Twitter account and a post in which he writes about an "armed citizen" whom he had seen shooting a "rioter" on the night of Aug 25, 2020.

Binger: "By the time you had made a conclusion in your own mind that what they defendant did was the right thing?" He then reads the tweet, appearing to try to further establish that Hernandez is biased. The exact tweet posted by Hernandez at the time is included above.

Binger: "Do you remember that tweet?"

Hernandez: "Yes."

Binger: "And that was shortly after this all happened."

Hernandez: "Yes."

After some additional back and forth, the prosecution finishes its cross-examination of Hernandez, according to Fox News' Jiovanni Lieggi.

Self-defense expert Dr. John Black is expected to be called back to the stand shortly. Defense attorney Mark Richards has said the defense plans to rest its case once Black's testimony has been completed.

Frank Hernandez testifies during Kyle Rittenhouse's trial about the video he took on the night of Aug. 25, 2020, at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool)

Prosecutor Thomas Binger begins cross-examination of Drew Hernandez, first by asking about his job and his work experience. Upon questioning by the court as to the purpose for his questioning, Binger explains that he was trying to acknowledge the witness' potential bias, but is stopped by the judge who reminds Binger that he does not want the case to become political.

Binger says he will move on, and begins asking about video footage. The prosecutor is scolded by the judge shortly thereafter while questioning Hernandez about his decision to retain an attorney for sharing footage pertaining to the case with both sides.

"I would like to know why he felt the need to retain an attorney ... I think it goes to bias to this," Binger says.

The judge calls for a lunch break.

During the break, Binger points out that the defendant is represented by the same law firm that is connected to a previous defense expert in this case, hence Binger's concerns for bias.

"The mere fact that he hired a lawyer," Schroeder says, explaining that it does not see how that indicates bias.

Binger explains he is concerned about bias considering that Hernandez has hired an attorney, an intermediary, who is connected to the same law firm as one of the defense's other expert witnesses.

"This is a law firm, your honor, that is getting presumably paid" by the defense, as an expert witness, and paid by the witness "directly pertaining to the evidence that he's testifying about in this case."

Judge Schroeder says he wants to think about whether or not Binger's argument applies, but says he thinks he will permit it, possibly with limitations.

Schroeder notes if he does permit Binger's argument, as he suspects he will, it is going to be "a closely watched door."

Trial is now on lunch break until 1 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. ET

Defense attorney Corey Chirafisi calls Drew Hernandez, who described himself as a "professional commentator" to the stand. Hernandez works for Real America's Voice and has been present at several protests nationwide, including the unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Hernandez was capturing video footage on the night of the shooting, including the moments leading up to the shootings.

Hernandez testifies he saw Rittenhouse's interaction with rioters and his effort to de-escalate their actions at times.

Hernandez describes how "rioters" were throwing rocks and launching fireworks on Aug. 25, 2020.

"When the rioters were being dispersed further down Sheridan towards the Car Source dealership, down the street, the rioters were grabbing concrete slabs there, throwing them on the floor to create more rocks and to throw them at police officers, they were launching fireworks and other explosives."

Hernandez continues to describe the night's events, noting that the "rioters initiated that conflict" with the individuals who had "long-arm rifles."

Hernandez: "The rioters identified individuals with long-arm rifles on top of the building, and they immediately attempted to agitate them to try and start some conflict with them, saying, 'You ain't the police, you ain't the police.'"

Hernandez further describes how the rioters' attention, specifically Joseph Rosenbaum's, moved from the police too these people with the rifles.

Chirafisi asks Hernandez if he saw Rittenhouse at this point.

Hernandez: "At that point, Kyle Rittenhouse came out of Car Source 2, and he attempted to de-escalate the situation."

Hernandez later adds that Rittenhouse "clearly attempts to de-escalate the situation, and he actually is successful because the rioters then disperse."

Chirafisi: "Did you see Mr. Rosenbaum do anything that kind of drew your attention?"

Hernandez: "Absolutely. He led the charge into the gas station. He was getting physically aggressive. He appeared to be attempting to start a physical altercation with people in the gas station to the point where he was telling one of the individuals with a rifle, 'Shoot me, n-word, shoot me' ... clearly attempting to start a physical altercation."

Kenosha Police Officer Brittni Bray testifies during Kyle Rittenhouse's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. (Mark Hertzberg /Pool Photo via AP)

Defense attorney Mark Richards calls Officer Brittni Bray, of the Kenosha Police Department, to the stand. He is questioning Bray about the types of shell casings found at the scene of the shootings, and the protocol for when a shell casing is recovered at a crime scene.

The previous witness, Dr. Black, is expected to return to the stand to continue his testimony later in the day.

Prosecution then cross-examined Officer Bray, who asked how a person would handle a gun that has jammed.

The defense then returns for re-cross examination, asking more questions about a gun that would be jammed.

Binger, for the prosecution, then follows up: "If you just fired that gun and the spent shell casing didn't properly .. eject, what would happen?" "It would go click, it wouldn't go bang," Bray responds. Binger then asks if someone would then have to re-rack their weapon, to which Bray responds, "Correct."

Bray was on the stand for mere minutes before her testimony was finished.

After a 10-minute break, the court resumes with the judge noting: “We’re going to be on our best behavior from this point on."

Defense attorney Richards resumes his questioning of Black.

After about two hours, Richards finishes his direct examination of Dr. Black. He is now being cross-examined by Binger for the prosecution.

According to Fox News reporter Jiovanni Lieggi, who is inside the courtroom, Black testified about slow-motion video of the shooting of Anthony Huber and Gaige Grosskreutz.

From Lieggi: "The shooting of Joseph Rosenbaum happened within [three-quarters] of a second. .739 to be exact."

An estimated two and three-quarters seconds passed between when Joshua Ziminski fires a gun into the air and when Rittenhouse shoots his weapon. According to Lieggi, D.r Black testifies that 5.468 seconds pass between Rittenhouse's first shots and the second shooting.

In all, the shootings lasted approximately six and a half minutes, Black testifies.

Also noted during the testimony is that the defense is paying Dr. Black $320 per hour to testify. During Binger's cross-examination of Black, he also notes that Black is being paid for his expertise and testimony.

Kyle Rittenhouse waits for the jury to enter the room to continue testifying during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021. (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool)

Kyle Rittenhouse took the witness stand Wednesday as he argued he fired in self-defense when he shot three people in August 2020 during demonstrations in Kenosha, Wisconsin that broke over the police shooting of Jacob Blake.

Rittenhouse, 18, has argued the men had attacked him. To win an acquittal on self-defense, he must show he reasonably feared for his life and used an appropriate amount of force. His testimony was the best way to give jurors insight into what he was thinking, legal observers say, but it exposed him to prosecutors’ cross-examination.

Rittenhouse testified that Joseph Rosenbaum twice threatened to kill him, chased him and grabbed for his gun. He also testified Anthony Huber hit him with a skateboard twice and tried to take his gun and Gaige Grosskreutz pointed a pistol at him. Rittenhouse cried as he described how Rosenbaum chased him. But he mostly kept his composure as he spent hours fielding questions from his attorneys and prosecutors.

Rittenhouse said repeatedly that he felt he had to shoot the men to protect himself.

Read more here.

Prosecutor Thomas Binger has objected to the types of questions Richards is asking Dr. Black, arguing that what Black has been asked, and has responded to, is beyond the scope of what the court has allowed him to testify to.

According to Fox News reporter Jiovanni Lieggi, the prosecution argues that Black should only be able to testify about the video and audio from the events of Aug. 25, 2020.

More from Lieggi: "During pretrial rulings, Judge Schroeder said Black was allowed to testify about the timing of events, however, he wouldn’t be able to give his opinion on whether Rittenhouse was acting in self-defense."

The jury has been sent out of the courtroom as both sides sparred over whether or not such testimony is justified.

After the judge begins speaking, he asks Binger why he is making a certain face.

"I have to say, your honor, yesterday I was the target of your ire for disregarding your orders," Binger tells the judge, while accusing Richards of disregarding the judge's orders today.

"We reached an agreement on this," Binger asserts. Judge says it was not related to this specific issue. Binger continues: "In his preliminary report, your honor, all he talks about is the timing of the shots."

Judge ultimately asks: "I guess the question I have is, what is the prejudice to the state? .... Secondly, whether you think there is some incongruity to the periods of time that might be fully covered" under Black's testimony?

Judge continues that unless Binger has concerns to either of those points, he is going to allow the testimony.

Binger repeats that yesterday he was "under the court's ire." He seems to be implying that he is being treated differently from the defense, and that he would not be receiving the same treatment if the roles were reversed, per Lieggi, who is inside the courtroom.

Judge: "I was talking yesterday about the Constitution of the United States and how the Supreme Court has interpreted it."

Binger: "This is a notice issue to the state." He adds that they did not receive ample notice.

"He's just adding new things at the last minute," Binger argues, speaking to Richards.

"There are notice requirements for experts. There has been no notice ... We already litigated this," he says, adding that the defense is now trying to add new information despite the court's order.

The back-and-forth continues.

"I understand that the court ... wants the jury to hear the timing of the beginning ... to the end .. there are other ways for us to that," Binger says, speaking to the judge. He adds that Black "is not needed for that."

Richards appears frustrated, and appears to roll his eyes at one point.

Dr. Black has agreed to re-label his material to ensure everything is in accordance with the judge's orders.

Self-defense expert witness Dr. John Black takes notes during Kyle Rittenhouse's testimony during Rittenhouse's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021. (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool)

Defense attorney Mark Richards calls Dr. John Black, a self-defense expert, to the stand. Black is the first witness called to the stand on Thursday.

Black is the first of three remaining witnesses to be called by the defense to testify, and is likely to speak about video and audio from the night of the shootings. Black is a former Army veteran and a former law enforcement officer, who has experience designing use-of-force programs within at least one law enforcement agency.

With the jury not yet in the courtroom, Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder said Thursday he would like arguments to be finished by Friday and would not like the case to extend to next week. He said he misspoke on Wednesday, having believed it was Thursday.

The trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, an Illinois man accused of fatally shooting two people and wounding a third during chaotic August 2020 demonstrations, is underway in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The demonstrations were sparked by the police shooting of Jacob Blake two days prior, while responding to a domestic disturbance.

Here's a look at the defendant, the judge, the prosecution, the defense and the three men Rittenhouse allegedly shot, two of whom died and the third who testified in court this week.

Read more here.

Gage Grosskreutz, who was shot and wounded by Kyle Rittenhouse, spoke out early Thursday in an appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” arguing that Rittenhouse appeared as a “child” when the teen broke down on the stand during his testimony.

“I think anytime you see your would-be murderer on the stand, it’s emotional,” Grosskreutz said. “To me it seemed like a child who just got caught doing something he wasn’t supposed to. More upset that he was caught, less upset about what he had done, what he had taken, the numerous lives he affected through his actions that night.”

Rittenhouse shed tears on the stand Wednesday while describing the moments before he encountered Joseph Rosenbaum and, ultimately, killed him. He testified that Rosenbaum had threatened his life twice earlier in the night and he shot once Rosenbaum advanced.

“I think that it should be recognized that Mr. Rittenhouse was an active-shooter,” Grosskreutz’s lawyer, Kimberley Motley, told “Good Morning America.” “As Gage has said, some of his testimony was extremely inconsistent. He was not, I believe, in the fear of danger for his own life.”

During cross-examination by defense Monday, Grosskreutz testified Rittenhouse did not shoot when Grosskreutz had his hands up, admitting that Rittenhouse only fired when Grosskreutz advanced and pointed his own gun at him. Grosskreutz had told prosecution he believed Rittenhouse was an active shooter.

Motley also asserted that Grosskreutz “was not threatening” Rittenhouse, further arguing that Rittenhouse “re-racked his gun with Gage.” Motley continued, “People need to pay attention to the inconsistent statements from the active-shooter or the defendant, Rittenhouse.”  

Fox News contributor Ted Williams said Wednesday on "Your World with Neil Cavuto" that the prosecutor in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial "may have made a fatal error" that could "lead to a mistrial or dismissal of this case with prejudice.

"Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger "may have made a fatal error when he asked him, 'Why didn't he speak up earlier?'," he explained.

"Kyle Rittenhouse had Fifth Amendment rights: the right to remain silent. He did not have to speak up earlier, and that, I believe, was very prejudicial. I think it very well could in the near future here lead to a mistrial or dismissal of this case with prejudice."

Read more here.

Wisconsin prosecutors could be barred from re-trying Kyle Rittenhouse if a defense motion for a mistrial is granted and the court rules that prosecutors intentionally caused the mistrial, according to legal experts. 

Lawyers for Rittenhouse asked for a mistrial Wednesday over the line of questioning directed at their client, which prompted Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder to angrily lash out at the chief prosecutor. He did not rule on the motion.