Extradition fight continues in Kenosha protest shootings

Updated: 1:01 p.m. on Oct. 9, 2020 

ILLINOIS (CBS 58) -- Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old accused of killing protesters during unrest in Kenosha, was back in court Friday for an extradition hearing.

Rittenhouse turned himself after returning home to Antioch, IL and is now fighting extradition back to Wisconsin.

Rittenhouse and the attorneys appeared over Zoom on Friday due to COVID-19 concerns. The hearing lasted just a few minutes but the defense made it clear Rittenhouse won't go back to Wisconsin without a fight.

On Thursday the defense filed documents outlining their objections to extradition. They say sending Rittenhouse back to Wisconsin “would be to turn him over to the mob.” They also argue the extradition paperwork is missing a signature and contains false statements.

“There are serious issues with the extradition paperwork that bolster the suggestion that this is a political prosecution,” John Pierce, the lead defense attorney, said in court Friday.

In court, the prosecution told the judge they will file a response to the defense quickly.

“This case has been dragging on now, we’re in October,” said Assistant States Attorney Stephen Scheller. “We can have a response in three days and we want a hearing as soon as possible.”

The judge set the extradition hearing for Oct. 30. The hearing won’t be to argue the actual charges, but instead prosecutors have to prove Rittenhouse is a fugitive, is charged with a crime and that the paperwork is in order.

“They’re [the defense] alleging that it’s not,” said Mike Nerheim, the Lake County State’s attorney. “We believe it is.”