Former Trump official knocks conservatives scoring ‘cheap political points’ on Rittenhouse verdict

Former White House director of communications Alyssa Farah blasted Republican politicians and conservative media figures for celebrating the verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse case. 

“An important point is that something can be the legally sound decision but not the morally right decision,” Farah said during an appearance on CNN’s “New Day” on Monday. 

Rittenhouse, 18, was acquitted of murder last week after shooting and killing two people in Kenosha, Wis., during civil unrest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man. Rittenhouse’s attorneys argued, and a jury concluded, that the teen acted in self defense during the shooting last summer. 

Farah said she agreed with the jury’s verdict, which was given on Friday, saying Rittenhouse “should have gotten off,” but that his presence in Kenosha that day still “raises so many questions.” 

“I do worry that it encourages vigilantism,” she said. “And I’m a little afraid of my friends on the right, I am a Republican, lionizing him and making him this martyr for the cause.” 

The Rittenhouse verdict has been widely celebrated by Republican members of Congress, conservative media figures and former President Trump. Rittenhouse was recently interviewed by Fox News host Tucker Carlson, with portions of the interview being released over the weekend.

“He’s a 17-year-old with his whole life ahead of him,” Farah added, noting Rittenhouse’s age at the time of the shootings. “And rather than kind of using him to earn cheap political points, maybe it’s time to move on.”

.@Alyssafarah joins @NewDay discussing the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict:

“I do worry about my friends on the right lionizing him…and rather than using him to make cheap political points maybe it’s time to move on.” pic.twitter.com/I8Yqa5PQfQ

— Brianna Keilar (@brikeilarcnn) November 22, 2021

Farah has spent the last several weeks appearing on various news network to criticize Trump and his allies, saying at one point she would not vote for him if he ran for president again. 

“Whether it’s weaponizing the Justice Department against political opponents, whether it’s going after the free press, he would certainly be open to using the military for political reasons as well,” Farah said earlier this month. 

Trump, in a recent statement dismissed Farah as a “backbencher” and congratulated Rittenhouse after the conclusion of his trial. 

“If that’s not self defense, nothing is!” Trump said.