Kyle Rittenhouse has received multiple offers from Republican representatives for a Congressional internship in the aftermath of his acquittal from the Kenosha murder trial, but Rep. Lauren Boebert believes that the 18-year-old has “bigger intentions.”
In a conversation with right-wing commentator Sebastian Gorka on the latter’s ‘America First’ podcast this week, Boebert recalled meeting Rittenhouse at AmericaFest, a conference organised by conservative organisation Turning Point USA, where the latter was a distinguished speaker.
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Recalling her interaction with Rittenhouse, Boebert said, “Kyle was such a sweetheart…You know, he’s gonna come out and visit some of us [Republicans], but I think he has bigger intentions than being an intern in Congress.”
Boebert’s comments appear to corroborate what Rittenhouse himself had said earlier. Following his acquittal from the Kenosha murder trial in November, Rittenhouse had told NewsNation, “I do not plan on accepting any internships. I don’t want to get involved in politics at all. I know nothing about it, and thank everybody for their support. But I’m good, thank you.”
Rittenhouse had been charged with the murders of 36-year-old Joseph Rosenbaum and 26-year-old Anthony Huber, as well as injuring 27-year-old Gaige Grosskreutz, at a Black Lives Matter protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin in August 2020, but was cleared of all charges in November 2021.
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The 18-year-old’s acquittal was celebrated by conservatives, who saw it as an indication of the symbolic victory of armed self-defence and the Second Amendment. Since then, Rittenhouse has found himself inundated with Republican offers for a Congressional internship, but given his public declaration of his disinterest in politics, he might have his eyes elsewhere.
Rittenhouse had also stated earlier that he had plans to re-enroll in classes at the Arizona State University to pursue a career in nursing and it remains to be seen whether he joins politics or leaves the public eye for a different career path.