The judge in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, Bruce Schroeder, barred MSNBC from entering Kenosha County Court after someone working for the news department was dragged in while allegedly following juries carrying vehicles van from the trial.
“I have instructed that no one from MSNBC be allowed into this building for the duration of this trial,” Schroeder said on the bench Thursday. “This is a very serious matter and I don’t know what the ultimate truth of it is, but there’s absolutely not much thought that someone is following the jury bus, that’s a big deal. The matter is extremely serious and will be referred to the appropriate authorities for further action. ”
An NBC News spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter that the person is a freelancer for the network and that they have received traffic alerts.
“While a traffic violation occurred near a jury vehicle, the freelancer never contacted or attempted to contact the jury during deliberation, and never took pictures or attempted to communicate with the jury. intend to photograph them,” the spokesperson said. “We regret the incident and will fully cooperate with authorities on any investigation.”
The jury in the Rittenhouse trial is currently debating, and has been taken to and from the courthouse in a bus with closed windows. Schroeder said the freelancer told the police officers who were selling him tickets that he had been instructed by his superiors to follow the grand jury bus in New York.
