Data Breach Shows Public Officials Donated To Rittenhouse

Grayslake IL

16 April, 2021

12:12 PM

Description

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A data breach has revealed public officials and police officers were among the donors to the legal fund for an Illinois teen accused of fatally shooting two protestors in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last year. The breach, which was shared with journalists by transparency group Distributed Denial of Secrets, showed many cases where officials donated and provided their official email addresses, according media reports. Get News Alerts and Newsletters from Patch Rittenhouse has raised more than $585,000 for his legal defense since August through the Christian crowdfunding website, GoSendGo. The data breach shows several donations linked to email addresses for police and other public officials, the Guardian reports. A $25 donation made anonymously but tied to the official email of a Norfolk, Virginia, police Sgt. William Kelly included this message: "God bless. Thank you for your courage. Keep your head up. You've done nothing wrong," according to the Guardian. Norfolk Police Official Lauds Wisconsin Shooting Suspect: Report The comment went on: "Every rank and file police officer supports you. Don't be discouraged by actions of the political class of law enforcement leadership." Rittenhouse, 18, is accused of traveling from his home in Antioch in August to Kenosha, Wisconsin, amid protests following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. The armed minor, who was 17 years old at the time, said he was there to protect businesses. Rittenhouse fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber with an AR-15-style rifle, according to court documents. He also shot and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, according to prosecutors. Rittenhouse faces first-degree murder charges in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, and is free after posting his $2 million bail. He is next expected in court on May 21 for a final pre-trial hearing. His trial is set for Nov. 1. More via The Guardian MORE ON PATCH Kyle Rittenhouse Posts $2M BailRittenhouse Trial Delayed At Least 7 MonthsCrowdfunding To Help Pay For Rittenhouse LawyerRittenhouse Violated Bond, Should Be Arrested: ProsecutorsJudge Denies Bail Hike; Rittenhouse 'Living It Up,' Father Says