The jury in the Kyle Rittenhouse homicide trial starts its third day of deliberations after sitting for two full days totaling 17 hours so far.
Judge Bruce Schroeder is yet to rule on a controversial mistrial motion with prejudice over "prosecutorial overreaching" and the withholding of high-resolution drone footage. The defense initially claimed the prosecution deliberately sent them lower-quality video evidence. It was later discovered that the video was compressed when sent over email and the request was revised to call for a mistrial without prejudice, claiming the defense wants a "clear, fair playing field."
Jurors were dismissed Wednesday evening but protests raged on into the night in Kenosha, Wisconsin, ending in two arrests. Police and the National Guard are on alert for violent clashes following the final verdict, which is expected soon.
There have been many dramatic moments during the trial so far, from Rittenhouse getting emotional on the witness stand, to Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder yelling at the prosecution, to a slew of controversies surrounding comments made by Judge Schroader that evoked calls of racism and bias.
Rittenhouse has pleaded not guilty to five charges, including reckless homicide, intentional homicide, attempted intentional homicide. The misdemeanor charge of possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18 was dropped before jury deliberations began.
The live updates for this blog have ended.
Follow along here for the latest updates on the Rittenhouse trial.
Joy Reid compares Rittenhouse to Brett Kavanaugh
MSNBC host Joy Reid compared the video of Kyle Rittenhouse crying on the witness stand to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in a TikTok video.
"This Kyle Rittenhouse trial. It reminded a lot of people of something," Reid said.
"Oh, the Brett Kavanaugh hearing, in which Brett Kavanaugh who had been accused by a high school friend of committing sexual abuse of her, cried his way through the hearings to make him a permanent member and associate justice of the United States Supreme Court."
She added that "white men can get away with that."
FULL STORY: Joy Reid's Kyle Rittenhouse 'Male, White Tears' Video Viewed Over 1 Million Times
@reidout Joy Reid breaks down just one key aspect of the #kylerittenenhouse trial. Read more at: MSNBC.com/reidoutblog! #news #msnbc #politics #kenosha
♬ Mysterious sound (suspense)(173713) - JIINO
Kenosha schools switch to virtual learning ahead of verdict
Several schools in Kenosha, Wisconsin have switched to remote learning ahead of the verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial.
The Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) told families Wednesday that schools, including Harborside, Reuther, Brass, Frank and Washington, will be learning virtually through Friday.
The district said the move comes "out of an abundance of caution" due to the proximity of the schools to the courthouse.
"We understand that this may impact our students in various ways, which is why we want to remind families of schools not listed above that you may choose to keep your children home if you feel that is in their best interest," the district said in a statement.
The district notes that they "have not been advised of any existing imminent danger," but feel this is the "best course of action to protect our students and staff during an uncertain time."
Jury resumes deliberations
A court official has informed reporters on the scene that the jury has begun the third day of deliberations in the Rittenhouse trial.
Bailiff tells us the jury has resumed deliberations in the #KyleRittenhouse trial.
— Stephanie Haines (@TMJ4Stephanie) November 18, 2021
Technical difficulties could lead to mistrial
During the second day of deliberation Wednesday, the jury re-watched several videos presented as evidence, including the controversial drone footage at the center of the defense's call for a mistrial.
Kyle Rittenhouse's lawyers initially claimed the prosecution intentionally gave them a lower-quality version of the footage. The defense later changed their request upon further investigation, dropping the claim of prejudice on the part of the prosecution.
This footage was central to the state's argument that Rittenhouse raised his gun before a shooting incident. The prosecution claims they did not deliberately alter the file and that it was compressed went sent over email, unbeknownst to the state.
According to the prosecution, a police detective first obtained the footage then airdropped it to the them. It was then separately e-mailed, which compressed the file, and quality was lost. That was the version that was sent to the defense and they say that's unfair.
— Omar Jimenez (@OmarJimenez) November 18, 2021
Defense attorney Corey Chirafisi said they did not have the same evidence as the prosecution until the trial was closed and having higher quality video earlier would have altered their argument strategy.
"It's not debatable that it's fair what happened," he said.
Chirafisi noted their motion would call for a mistrial without prejudice, meaning the state can retry the case against Rittenhouse again so everyone "can have the same information and same quality of videos."
The prosecution called this request "inappropriate."
"I do not believe an unknown technical incident should result in a mistrial," prosecutor James Kraus said.
FULL STORY: Kyle Rittenhouse Trial Drone Footage Could Prove 'Ugly' for Prosecution
WATCH: The rocky relationship between the judge and the prosecution
The defense has called for a mistrial for the second time during court proceedings, hoping that an increasingly impatient Judge Bruce Schroeder, who has repeatedly reprimanded prosecution attorney Thomas Binger, will take their side.
In the first week of proceedings, Assistant District Attorney Binger was slapped down by the judge for asking Kyle Rittenhouse about a video that had already been ruled as inadmissible evidence.
Provoking an even angrier response from Schroeder, the attorney began quizzing Rittenhouse about why he is now only just speaking publicly about the case - despite defendants having the legal right to remain silent until their trial in order not to incriminate themselves.
FACT CHECK: Did the lead prosecutor point a rifle at the jury?
Claims have emerged online that while making his closing statement, Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger produced the weapon that Kyle Rittenhouse used during the shooting incident on August 25 last year.
Some suggest he raised and pointed the weapon at the jury in the courtroom in an attempt to "intimidate". But fact checkers, including Newsweek, have since discovered that it was more likely Binger pointed the gun, which was unloaded, at the wall instead.
Kyle Rittenhouse Prosecutor Point Gun at Jury, Telling Them to Convict?
It is understood that due to the specific position of the camera inside the courtroom, and where press photographers were allowed, images gave the impression of Binger aiming the weapon at the jury. when in fact this was not the case.
FULL STORY: Did Kyle Rittenhouse Prosecutor Point Gun at Jury, Telling Them to Convict?
Police arrest two at protests last night
Officers took a 20-year-old man into custody for battery, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, while a 34-year-old woman was arrested for disorderly conduct.
A statement from Kenosha Police Department said law enforcement needed to "deploy several officers to keep crowds of citizens and media from interfering" in the arrests.
The Kenosha Police Department and the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department fully recognize the importance of media coverage surrounding the trial. The media and the public have a responsibility to give space to law enforcement and allow them to perform their duties. Please do so.
'If ever there was an opportunity to bridge the divide - this is it'
The 'Kyle Rittenhouse Defense Fund' - a fundraising campaign set up by his mother - has called on the judge to rule the proceedings a mistrial.
If ever there was an opportunity to bridge the divide - this is it.
— 🇺🇸 Kyle Rittenhouse Defense Fund 🇺🇸 (@freekyleusa) November 18, 2021
Tampering and withholding evidence is an attack on a defendants due process rights.
Somehow I get the sense this isn’t the first time and probably won’t be the last.
It is NEVER acceptable.
Rep. Matt Gaetz wants Kyle Rittenhouse as a congressional intern
In a bizarre interview on Newsmax last night, the Florida representative said he hopes a not guilty verdict is reached by the jury.
We may reach out and see if he is interested in helping the country in additional ways.
Matt Gaetz wants to hire Kyle Rittenhouse as a congressional intern. pic.twitter.com/LvmXFFgt5v
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) November 18, 2021
WATCH: Protesters clash outside Kenosha courthouse
Two opposing groups of protesters - one claiming Rittenhouse should be found guilty and another claiming he is innocent on the basis of self-defense - clashed outside the courthouse for hours yesterday.
The groups confronted each other into the night - even after the day's proceedings had ended. Rittenhouse's critics claim the counter-protesters are far-right Trump supporters, while that group claims the protesters are Black Lives Matter and Antifa activists seeking to "intimidate" the court.
The protests have, in some way, been emblematic of the deepening political divide in the U.S. in recent years.
Controversy over judge actions following mistrial claims
Kyle Rittenhouse's defense team has filed two motions in recent days - the latest requested yesterday afternoon - calling for a mistrial due to alleged "prosecutorial overreaching" and the withholding of high-resolution drone footage.
Judge Bruce Schroeder has yet to rule on either of the controversial motions, prompting a backlash from protesters, commentators, and local media, which reported that his decision was "odd".
But he hit back at criticism, suggesting both the defense and prosecution should be given the opportunity to respond before he rules. It is the latest in a series of controversies involving comments made by Judge Schroader that evoked calls of racism and bias and calls from protesters to "recall" him.
FULL STORY: Anger Over Kyle Rittenhouse Trial Judge Grows After Week of Controversies
