Wikimedia Commons / Gage Skidmore
Kyle Rittenhouse speaks on the 2021 AmericaFest in Phoenix, Arizona.
Kyle Rittenhouse, the right-wing activist who was famously acquitted of killing two Black Lives Matter protesters in 2020, is stepping up his involvement in Texas politics.
Already this 12 months, he’s rallied with a Texas secessionist motion chief, endorsed ultraconservative midterm candidates, and railed in opposition to Texas gun management laws and the impeachment of Lawyer Normal Ken Paxton.
Now, Rittenhouse is making a nonprofit within the state — with assist from well-connected, far-right political actors.
In a July 23 submitting with the Texas secretary of state’s workplace, he described “The Rittenhouse Basis” as a nonprofit that “protects human and civil rights secured by legislation, together with a person’s inalienable proper to bear arms” and “ensures the Second Modification is preserved via training and authorized help.”
The muse’s administrators are Rittenhouse, Texas Gun Rights President Chris McNutt and Shelby Griesinger, treasurer for Defend Texas Liberty PAC, a key financier of far-right candidates within the state. The muse’s registered agent is the legislation agency of Tony McDonald, who has for years represented Empower Texans and different deep-red organizations.
Defend Texas Liberty and Empower Texans have obtained tens of tens of millions of dollarsfrom a trio of West Texas oil tycoons — Tim Dunn and brothers Farris and Dan Wilks — who’ve for many years funded campaigns, nonprofits and actions to advertise their ultraconservative non secular and social views.
McDonald declined an interview request Tuesday. Different basis officers couldn’t be reached for remark.
Rittenhouse moved to Texas final 12 months after being acquitted of murder expenses within the deadly capturing of two folks at a 2020 protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He’s since steadily ramped up his political involvement in Texas, typically railing in opposition to the media, “cancel tradition” and gun management teams.
In January, Rittenhouse appeared at a Conroe “rally in opposition to censorship” with Daniel Miller, president of the Texas Nationalist Motion, which advocates for Texas to secede from the US. The occasion drew nationwide media consideration after a Conroe brewery mentioned it was inundated with threats and harassment after pulling out because the occasion’s host venue.
In Might, Rittenhouse joined Texas Gun Rights in opposing a Home invoice that may have raised the minimal age to buy semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21. And he’s been energetic on social media, condemning the Texas Home impeachment of Paxton and endorsing pro-Second Modification, ultraconservative candidates who had been additionally backed by teams affiliated with Dunn and the Wilks brothers.
Rittenhouse has endorsed Andy Hopper, a main challenger to state Rep. Lynn Stucky, R-Denton. Hopper, who got here near unseating Stucky in a runoff in 2022, had the help of Defend Texas Liberty in that main and is anticipated to have it once more.
Rittenhouse extra lately backed Brandon Herrera, a gun rights activist and YouTube star generally known as “The AK Man” who’s working in opposition to U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio. Gonzales represents the district the place the 2022 Uvalde faculty capturing passed off, and he was the one Texas Republican within the U.S. Home to vote for a bipartisan gun legislation afterward.
Final 12 months, Rittenhouse introduced plans to attend Texas A&M College, solely to stroll again the declare after the college mentioned he had not been accepted. Rittenhouse, an Illinois native, later mentioned he deliberate to attend Blinn Faculty, a two-year faculty in Brenham. It’s unclear if Rittenhouse is attending the varsity, which mentioned he had not enrolled in lessons after he introduced his intention to go there.
Rittenhouse’s foray into Texas politics comes as Republicans proceed efforts to achieve out to youthful People who’re more and more supportive of liberal insurance policies. On Monday, The Texas Tribune reported on a brand new firm, Influenceable, with ties to Dunn that has been quietly recruiting Gen Z social media influencers to do undisclosed political promotions.
Patrick Svitek contributed reporting.
This text initially appeared within the Texas Tribune.The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and interesting Texans on state politics and coverage. Study extra at texastribune.org.
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