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 protest 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 himself 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 the members 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 frequently-asked-questions guide produced by the Congressional Research Service, but it is possible for a felon to run for and serve in Congress.