Kenoshacountyeye

Kenosha County Eye

Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.

Where Are the Kyle Rittenhouse Prosecutors Now? : Opinion

Share
Tweet
Kenosha Prosecutors James Kraus (D) and T. Clair Binger (D)
(File Photos by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)

Many people want to know. Where are the Kyle Rittenhouse prosecutors now? Most legal professionals and folks with common sense agree – the prosecutors couldn’t convict Kyle Rittenhouse. They didn’t have a chance. That didn’t stop James Kraus and T. Clair Binger from trying their best. They also broke rules including mentioning Rittenhouse’s post-arrest silence, talking about things barred in pre-trial hearings, and more. Even with the cheating, they lost. We told you about how their first trials after Rittenhouse’s trial were both failures. KCE spoke with multiple jurors who told us they didn’t trust T. Clair Binger. Many predicted these two would go elsewhere…soon. They were right. Their credibility is shot.

Paid Advertisement

There is a mass exodus at the Kenosha County DA’s office. There are at least six brand new prosecutors, most with little to no experience. DA Mike Graveley’s Deputy DA, Carli McNeill is Graveley’s right-hand woman. She is a far-left progressive prosecutor that believes in second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chances for violent criminals. She announced to her office that she will be running for DA in 2024. She is said to be running as a Republican, however. Just like we saw in the Sheriff’s race, Ray Rowe (D) ran as a Republican because you can’t win a county-wide race as a Democrat anymore. If you are a progressive, soft-on-crime voter, Carli McNeill is your woman. Just remember though, on the ballot, there will be a (R) next to her name.

James Kraus

Paid Advertisement

KCE learned that Kenosha Assistant District attorney James Kraus has resigned from the DA’s office. His last week is upon us. We asked him where he was going in an email and he ignored us. He lives in Milwaukee County so we won’t likely see him any more. His wife, Emily Trigg, left the DA’s office last year also.

T. Clair Binger

Paid Advertisement

Binger is still an active prosecutor in Kenosha. That isn’t to say he isn’t desperate to leave. He has been and is currently looking for a new job. He ran unsuccessfully for DA in Racine and got defeated handily. Recently, he had applied to the Racine City Council to be appointed Municipal Court Judge. After an interview, 0 out of 15 Aldermen voted for Binger. During his opening statement, he said:

Racine City Attorney: And Mr. Binger please briefly introduce yourself tell us why you would like to be appointed City of Racine Municipal Judge. Remember that the Alderpersons have your resume and letter of interest.

Paid Advertisement

T. Clair Binger: Thank you Mr. Letteney. Mr. Mayor, Mr. Chairman. It’s tough to go last after all these uh well-qualified individuals so I’ll just kind of try and hit the highlights. I graduated from a top 10 law school – University of Michigan Law School. I’ve been an attorney for 22 years and I’ve been doing litigation that entire time. I’ve done almost 100 jury trials as a criminal prosecutor and as a civil litigator. The highlights of my legal career include arguing a child welfare case before the Wisconsin Supreme Court and winning a unanimous decision that helped abused and neglected kids to be adopted into forever homes. In private practice here in Racine I went on over a $500,000 jury verdict for a local real estate developer to help their business represent a lot of small businesses in our area and as a criminal prosecutor I have successfully convicted and put in prison murderers, rapists, drug dealers, drunk drivers, and all sorts of violent offenders. So I feel that my legal career is a very varied and very strong legal career which is centered completely around being in court. As a prosecutor in some ways you are a judge in the sense that every case that comes into the system – you’re the first person to take a look at it and decide what should happen – whether that person should be charged, what charges you should seek, ultimately what sort of plea recommendation you’re going to make if that person decides to plead guilty. Prosecutors have almost complete discretion – they’re the ones who decide and there’s really no one other than the voters at the election box who can overturn their decisions. So, every day I have people come before me cases that come to me where I’m determining uh someone’s fate which is very similar to the role a judge plays and I make that decision without worrying about their race, without worrying about their color, their sexual orientation, their religion, their nationality, or any of those decisions I make it based on a fair and impartial review of the facts and a decision as to what I think is best. I chose to come here to Racine 13 years ago and raised my family here – much as many of you chose to come here or your parents chose to came come here but I chose this city because I believe in Racine. I feel strongly about it. In 2016 you may all remember I ran for Racine County District Attorney because I felt that I wanted to do what I could to make this community a better place. I’ve been a prosecutor down in Kenosha for the last five years and although the cities are very different in some respects there are some similarities in terms of our urban diverse environment, the poverty, the drug abuse. A lot of the problems that these communities face are ones that I’m very familiar with and I’m running, or asking you to appoint me as Municipal Court Judge because I feel that I have skills and experience that can bring to that court, the opportunity to continue to modernize it as Judge Mason had been doing. I continue to look at the ways because of my experience the impact that the decisions that are made there can have on someone’s life I think for a lot of people that is the only uh judicial or legal experience that people have and so i think the experience that I have and making the decisions that I’ve had in the wide range of courtroom experience I’ve had will provide the demeanor the judgment the wisdom the impartiality the fairness and the dignity that that court deserves and that the people of Racine deserve and ultimately, I want to make an impact in trying to make our community a better place. Thank you.

Here is a video of his speech:

Paid Advertisement

Author

  • Kevin Mathewson

    Kevin Mathewson is a disciple of Christ, husband and a father to two wonderful children. Mathewson was born and raised in Lake County, IL and worked as a police & fire dispatcher from 2005 to 2010 in Round Lake Beach, IL. Mathewson moved to Kenosha County in 2006, later being elected to the position of Alderman of the 8th District in 2012 and 2016. Mathewson is a private investigator, security contractor, journalist, and photographer. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching movies, camping and boating. His favorite amendment is the second, followed closely by the first. He loves his country and community.

Share
Tweet
LATEST NEWS

Kenosha Man Known As The “Black Kyle Rittenhouse” Is Free After Having Charge Dismissed

Jarred Cooks, a 28-year-old Kenosha man, walked out of the Kenosha County Courthouse today with a large weight lifted off of his shoulders, and a big smile. In court today, preparations were underway for a trial that was scheduled for April 8, 2024 – just 11 days away. Instead, today a Circuit Court Judge dismissed the serious felony against Cooks, at the request of the prosecutor. He was facing one count of First Degree Recklessly Endangering

Read More »

Kenosha’s Peter Barca Leaves Governor’s Administration

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) Secretary Peter Barca will be leaving the Evers Administration after serving the administration for more than five years. Secretary Barca was one of the governor’s first appointments to his cabinet in 2019. “Peter has been with our administration since Day One, and I knew from the beginning that he would be a dedicated, enthusiastic, and effective leader for the Department of Revenue,” said Gov.

Read More »
MORE TOP STORIES

Carthage College Student Assaulted on Campus – Person of Interest in Custody

On Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at about 8:30 PM, officers from the Kenosha Police Department responded to the campus of Carthage College to investigate an attempted assault and robbery that occurred on campus. The adult female student screamed for help during the attack, causing another student to respond. Their actions caused the man to flee. The Kenosha Police Department and Carthage Public Safety immediately began a collaborative investigation. The campus community was notified of the incident

Read More »

Controversy Surrounds Kemper Center Appointment of Daniel Gaschke as Executive Director

In a move that has sparked controversy and raised serious questions about its transparency and governance, the Kemper Center has appointed Daniel Gaschke, a Kenosha County Board Member, as its new executive director. Gaschke’s appointment comes amidst allegations of impropriety and procedural irregularities, further compounded by attempts to suppress information and limit public scrutiny. Gaschke will succeed Ed Kubicki, another County Board member, who was hired in 2018 under similarly suspicious circumstances. Citizens and politicians claimed

Read More »

Kenosha Unified School District To Host Events Celebrating Legacy Of Schools Slated To Close

WHAT: At the end of this school year, the Kenosha Unified School District will have six schools closing, one merging with another, and one changing locations. To honor their legacy in our community, the district will be celebrating the history of each of the buildings impacted prior to the end of the school year. WHO: All current and past students, staff and families, as well as general community members, are invited to celebrate the history of

Read More »

Video Released Of High School Teacher’s Police Chase And Arrest For Third OWI – No Discipline From School District

The dash-cam and body-cam footage of a Tremper High School teacher leading police on a drunken pursuit through Kenosha was released today. Pursuant to a public records request, KPD turned over the videos to KCE today. Mark P. Wisniewski, 41, of Kenosha, was sentenced to six months in jail earlier this month after leading Kenosha Police on a 1 mile chase with a blood alcohol content of .300 – almost four times the legal limit. Wisniewski

Read More »

The Status Quo Has Failed KUSD – Voter Guide: Opinion

The April 2nd ballot instructs KUSD electors to choose four candidates. The common sense choices are Jon Kim, Bob Tierney, Brian Thomas, and Angela Kretchmer. These candidates strongly support parents’ rights and getting back to academic basics, like reading and math. As the birth rate continues to decline, so will enrollment, and thus, revenue. These candidates support prudent fiscal planning today to prepare for many years into the future. They want to do long-term planning so that

Read More »

Vote NO on Bristol School Referendum: Opinion

In Bristol School District #1, there is an operating referendum on next Tuesday’s ballot, along with a race for 2 school board seats. Just two short years ago, Bristol voters agreed to a $22.3 million building referendum, but they voted against an operating referendum one year ago, in April of 2023. Now the school board has their hand out again for a third referendum in just three years.  They voted 4-1 to ask the taxpayers for

Read More »

15 Responses

  1. Funny how Thomas Binger, the lead prosecutor in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial now goes through life as T. Clair Binger. When searching the internet finding his name is a rarity,as if someone has tried to scrub and erase his name in relation to the trial? After the embarrassment of riches that was the prosecution team in this trial it doesn’t surprise me he changed his name but the internet never forgets.

    1. Sadly, many people will never make that connection that us observant people have. I mean, c’mon people. It’s not like his name is Smith, or Johnson. But many will still forget.

  2. I understand that many of you do not agree with the Rittenhouse prosecution.
    That decision was made by elected official District Attorney Gravely.
    Attorney Binger also prosecutes hundreds of crimes a week that you would agree with putting murderers, rapists, and other scum bags in prison.
    Cut the guy a break, he is working for you 99% of the time, plus he is a snappy dresser!

    1. A prosecutor that violates Constitution 1% of the time has no business being a prosecutor, much less a judge.

      10
      1
    2. Gravely was wrong to bring this case, but given that he is an elected official and there was enormous political pressure to do so, I can understand why he did. Binger on the other hand made some really questionable decisions both in not re-evaluating the case during discovery, and in trial. He’s also since given interviews in which he says he wanted Rittenhouse to go to prison for life. He made a statement saying that the jury saw through Rittenhouse’s “crocodile tears” (the same jury that saw through Binger’s weak case and unanimously acquitted). His approach to this case is incredibly out of touch at best and unethical at worst.

    3. Actually, Binger said himself in an interview that he had leeway to pick his cases and when he was asked to take this case he agreed. He was not told to. He thought Kyle was guilty and a brat!

  3. Great article idea. Thanks for the followup! Binger’s comments about the “absolute” discretion of prosecutors is a good reason not to give him the job.

        1. James Kraus, is now a assistant attorney general for the Wisconsin department of justice. which is very scary.

  4. James Kraus, is now a assistant attorney general for the Wisconsin department of justice. which is very scary.

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

LATEST NEWS

Subscribe to updates

Get notified of new articles. We'll never share your email address.