Things got heated in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse when the prosecutor conducted his cross-examination of the teenager.
After Rittenhouse delivered emotional testimony on Wednesday, Thomas Binger, the prosecutor, questioned the defendant’s silence after his arrest.
However, Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder told Binger, “The problem is this is a grave constitutional violation for you to talk about the defendant’s silence.”
“You’re right on the borderline, and you may be over it. But it better stop,” he added.
Later defense attorney Mark Richards claimed Binger was trying to force a mistrial after he apparently tried to bring up a matter that Schroeder had rejected.
“He knows he can’t go into this and he’s asking the questions,” Richards said. “I ask the court to strongly admonish him and the next time it happens, I’ll be asking for a mistrial with prejudice. He’s an experienced attorney and he knows better.”
Binger responded claiming “the court left the door open.”
“For me not for you!” Schroeder said.
He continued as he rebuked Binger for commenting on Rittenhouse’s silence after his arrest.
“I was astonished when you began your examination by commenting on the defendant’s post-arrest silence,” Schroeder said. “That’s basic law. It’s been basic law in this country for 40 years, 50 years. I have no idea why you would do something like that. And it gives…well I’ll leave it at that. So I don’t know what you’re up to.”
Watch the video below:
Rittenhouse trial judge yells at the prosecutor pic.twitter.com/qzA5r7NWwv
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) November 10, 2021
As The Hill reports, “Binger then responded that he filed another motion on the issue, arguing that it was relevant to the discussion. The prosecutor now said he wanted to ‘impeach’ Rittenhouse on his belief about protecting property with the prior incident, which involved the same gun.”
However, Schroeder noted he had already decided not to allow that testimony and had heard nothing in the trial to change his mind.
Binger interjected, “That was before the defendant’s testimony, your honor.”
“Don’t get brazen with me! You knew very well that attorneys can’t go into these types of areas when the judge has already ruled without asking outside the presence of the jury to do so. So don’t give me that,” Schroeder fired back.
"Don't get brazen with me!"
— Mediaite (@Mediaite) November 10, 2021
WATCH: Judge Bruce Schroeder absolutely torches Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger during Kyle Rittenhouse's trial. pic.twitter.com/6TBJ8piJEQ
The exchange came after Rittenhouse delivered emotional testimony in his homicide trial.
As CNN reports, “Kyle Rittenhouse testified Wednesday that he was scared for his life and acted in self-defense when he fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum last year in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in what is likely to be the pivotal testimony of his homicide trial.”
During his testimony, he broke down in tears which prompted Schroeder to call for a break in the trial.
