We know that the fourth estate is on shaky ground these days but if the latest report from the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse is to be believed then American media outlets are plumbing new depths.
A bombshell news report Thursday claimed that cable network MSNBC has been banned from the trial of accused teen gunman Rittenhouse for allegedly trying to follow and potentially intimidate jurors.
The judge prohibited the network from attending proceedings in the courtroom after a man claiming to be an MSNBC producer was accused of following jurors, according to a report in the New York Post.
The man, James Morrison, was pulled over Wednesday after he allegedly blew a red light while pursuing a bus that transports jurors from the Kenosha County Courthouse, Judge Bruce Schroeder said.
“He stated that he had been instructed by [a superior] in New York to follow the jury bus,” Schroeder said.
Police confirmed Thursday that there was an “incident with a person who is alleging to be affiliated with a national media outlet” and the suspect was issued several traffic citations.
“Police suspect this person was trying to photograph jurors. This incident is being investigated much further,” police said.
Schroeder called the incident an “extremely serious matter” and barred any journalists from MSNBC from attending the ongoing trial.
“I have instructed that no one from MSNBC News will be permitted in this building for the duration of this trial. This a very serious matter,” Schroeder said.
As of Thursday lunchtime, jury deliberations were continuing.