Layout 1

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 Unified School District, Executive, Sued For Throwing Water Bottle And Injuring Kenosha Woman

A 60-year-old Kenosha woman is suing the Kenosha Unified School district, alleging she was seriously injured during a Bradford High School Graduation Ceremony by one of KUSD’s top administrators. Haithcock is the “Chief of School Leadership” and has held that title since 2021. He earns $174,834 per year. He started working at KUSD in 1991. According to the lawsuit: On June 5, 2023, the 60-year-old woman attending the Bradford High School graduation ceremony that was held

Read More »

Feel-Good Friday: Middle School Dad Volunteers His Time Every Day To Help Kids Cross Road

There have been a lot of bad press for KTEC lately. Still, of course, there are many good teachers, administrators, students and parents at the school. One, especially is a man named Joshua Dean Vaughn. Another parent nominated Josh for today’s Feel-Good Friday but wished to stay anonymous. Neither she nor KCE knew this man’s name. A quick check on Facebook, we received many messages from KTEC parents who were quick to praise Josh. “He crosses

Read More »
MORE TOP STORIES

New KUSD School Board President Calls Special Meeting, Seemingly To Fire Embattled Groomer – DO NOT GIVE THE BOARD CREDIT: Opinion

The new democrat in charge of the KUSD school board has called a special meeting of the board for May 7, 2024 at 5:00 P.M. The notice for this meeting includes language about terminating an employee. KCE is told by a KUSD insider that the board will be voting to terminate accused child-groomer Christian Enwright. What did it take to get to this point? News articles, tv news reports, emails, petitions, protests, and more. The board

Read More »

Principal Of Middle School Where Grooming Teacher Works, Almost Fired Himself, History of Misconduct

Scott Hodges is the Principal at Kenosha School of Technology, Enhanced Curriculum. This is the school where a teacher, Christian Enwright, is accused by parents and law enforcement of grooming 12-year-old middle school girl. Hodges has never been a classroom teacher, in fact, he taught “Legos.” His predecessor, Angie Andersson, selected Hodges to be the school’s assistant principal despite not only lacking classroom teaching experience, but also lacking administrator experience. This move caught the ire of

Read More »

Grooming Teacher at KTEC Middle School’s Teaching License Is “Under Investigation” : DPI

According to the State’s Department of Public Instruction (DPI), KTEC Teacher Christian Enwright’s teaching license is “under investigation.” Enweight was determined to be grooming a 12-year-old student by Kenosha Police. A KUSD mom to two students told KCE this morning that she filed a complaint with the DPI and spoke to their legal counsel. The mom, Karina Luna told KCE that DPI informed her that they had not been made aware of the accusations by KUSD

Read More »

Kenosha Woman, Feeling Constantly Harassed By “Racist” Alderman, Makes Complaint With Police

A Kenosha woman walked into the Kenosha Public Safety Building on April 9, 2024 to complain about her Alderman, Rollin Pizzala (D). Pizzala was elected in 2020, easily defeating the one-term Alderman, Stephanie Kemp. In 2022 and 2024, Pizzala was reelected, having no opponent. Pizzala is a past high-ranking member of the Kenosha County Democrat Party. The 36-year-old woman named Laquisha Daniel, told police that she has had it with Pizzala, who is her Alderman. “I

Read More »

Two Kenosha County Judges Overruled By Appellate Court

Two local judges were recently overruled by a Wisconsin appellate court.  It all started when a defense lawyer, Mark Richards, filed a “substitution of judge” request in a criminal case.  Every defendant gets the right to file one substitution, and KCE has learned that most defense lawyers substitute against Judge Angelina Gabriele.  That is what Mark Richards did.  Commissioner Bill Michel found the written request to be “timely filed.”  He then granted it, assigned the case

Read More »

The Preliminary-Hearing Swindle: Q&A With Attorney And Author, Michael D. Cicchini

Kenosha criminal defense attorney Michael Cicchini recently had his new article, “The Preliminary-Hearing Swindle: A Crime Against Procedure,” accepted for publication by the Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review.  We asked him about his article, and whether the preliminary hearing could have prevented the bogus prosecution of Kenosha college student Marissa Chon. Q:  Near the beginning of your article on preliminary hearings, you quote Ambrose Bierce.  Who is he and what did he say? I’m glad

Read More »

Rep. Amanda Nedweski Announces Campaign for Re-election to Wisconsin State Assembly

April 19, 2024 – Pleasant Prairie, WI – Rep. Amanda Nedweski (R-Pleasant Prairie) announces her bid for re-election to the Wisconsin State Assembly. In the newly adopted legislative maps, districts have been renumbered. While Rep. Nedweski currently represents District 61, she will be running to serve in District 32 this year. The new 32nd district includes approximately 70% of the area that was formerly the 61st district. “The trust that the people of the 61st have

Read More »

Parishes To Host International Speaker And Author, Jason Evert

KENOSHA, Wis. – The Downtown Kenosha Catholic (DTKC) parishes of St. Elizabeth and St. James the Apostle will host international speaker Jason Evert, bringing parents and teens together for a double-feature presentation. The ticketed evening event will be held in the DTKC Auditorium, 714 49th St., on Thursday, May 2. When it comes to talking about healthy relationships, marriage, and gender identity – coupled with an acceleration of addiction to pornography – families are looking for

Read More »

Republican Lawyer Announces Bid For Kenosha County District Attorney

Attorney Xavier Solis (R-Bristol) announced his candidacy for the office of Kenosha County District Attorney today.  A graduate of the University of Illinois-Chicago Law School, Xavier has been dismayed at the poor record and thoughtless handling of crime in Kenosha County.  His opponent, Carli McNeill (D), was handpicked by the Democrat Party establishment to continue this soft-on-crime, underhanded way of dealing with violent criminals. McNeill was also the one who signed the criminal complaint for Kyle

Read More »

What Happened To Zha’riyah? – Sexual Assault And Mysterious Death Of Beloved 5-Year-Old Girl

***Explicit Content and KCE is using Zha’riyah’s name with permission from  and at the request of her mother*** What happened to baby Zha’riyah Robinson? We know she was a cute, spunky, sweet and beloved little five-year-old little girl.We know she was brutally sexually assaulted on August 22, 2023, and unfortunately, passed away less than three months later on November 16, 2023 in Surprise, Arizona. What we don’t know is how she died. In court today, Assistant

Read More »
Categories
Archives

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. 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.

    2. 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.

Add a Comment

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

LATEST NEWS
Categories
Archives

Subscribe to updates

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