Kenosha County Judge Bruce Schroeder has banned MSNBC from entering the courthouse after an incident in which a man who claimed to be with the network had attempted to follow a bus that was allegedly transporting jurors who are part of the Kyle Rittenhouse trial.
Judge Schroeder stated that it’s a very serious matter and banned the network, but also stated that he “don’t know what the ultimate truth of it is… But absolutely it would go without much thinking that someone who is following the jury bus, that’s an extremely serious matter and it will be referred to the proper authorities.”
The Kenosha Police Dept. had also posted a statement on social media saying the following: “Last night a person who is alleging to be affiliated with a national media outlet was briefly taken into custody and issued several traffic related citations. Police suspect this person was trying to photograph jurors. This incident is being investigated much further.” They continued in a second tweet: “There was no breach of security regarding the jury, nor were there any photographs obtained. This investigation remains active and open, no further information.”
As stated on NBC15, the judge relayed the information that police questioned a man who ran a red light – and that man was within a block of the bus carrying jurors. The man said his name was James J. Morrison and that a “superior” told him to follow the bus. The man received a traffic violation ticket after the police were done talking with him. MSNBC is likely to issue a statement or confirmation.
Before this took place, jurors had expressed concerns for their safety amid such a tumultuous and controversial trial.