David Axelrod calls Rittenhouse judge ‘defense attorney on the bench’

David Axelrod, former chief adviser to President Obama, took to Twitter on Monday to criticize the Wisconsin judge presiding in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, accusing him of being “a de facto defense attorney.”

Axelrod slammed Judge Bruce Schroeder after the latter dismissed a misdemeanor gun charge against Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager facing murder charges for fatally shooting two protesters during unrest over police brutality last year in Kenosha, Wis.

In his tweet, Axelrod praised Rittenhouse’s luck and said that “this kid has the great good fortune of a de facto defense attorney on the bench.”

Adding further criticism, Axelrod said that “In keeping with the Wisconsin state motto, the judge’s message to gun-toting vigilantes: Forward!”

In keeping with the Wisconsin state motto, the judge’s message to gun-toting vigilantes:
Forward! https://t.co/Fes5jJJ2Wp

— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) November 15, 2021

This argument over Rittenhouse’s rifle is based on whether the length of the weapon qualified it as dangerous under the Wisconsin state law.

Earlier, Schroeder had dismissed the defense’s effort to get the charge thrown out, but then said on Monday that he believed the statute was poorly written. He added that he was open to challenging the count, which carries a maximum possible sentence of nine months in jail and a $10,000 fine.

“I have big problems with this statute, I’ve made no bones about that from the beginning,” the judge said.

Schroeder will also ask the jury to consider whether the teenage defendant provoked the deadly encounter he’s on trial for and consider lesser charges than first-degree murder, The Washington Post reported. The report adds that this is seen as favorable to the prosecution.

Jurors and the court will hear closing arguments from both sides on Monday morning.

Rittenhouse is facing six counts over the deaths of Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, as well as the wounding of Gaige Grosskreutz.