Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz said Wednesday night he would consider bringing Kyle Rittenhouse on as a congressional intern. Rittenhouse, 18, is on trial for murder after shooting three people during a Black Lives Matter protest in Kenosha, Wisc., last summer, killing two.
“You know what? Kyle Rittenhouse would probably make a good congressional intern. We may reach out to him and see if he’d be interested in helping the country in additional ways,” Gaetz said during an appearance on right-wing commentary channel Newsmax, where he also said he believes Rittenhouse is innocent.
The Florida representative — who has been under a Department of Justice investigation for sexual misconduct since early this year — said, “He is not guilty. He deserves a not guilty verdict and I sure hope he gets it.”
Jury deliberations in Rittenhouse’s trial will continue into a third day on Thursday as jurors consider the defense’s claim that Rittenhouse shot in self-defense, and the prosecution’s that he crossed state lines with a weapon while looking for trouble.
There is no mention of whether convicted felons may serve as congressional interns in the FAQ guide produced by the Congressional Research Service, but it is possible for a felon to run for and serve in Congress.