OPINION: Kenosha Survivor's Revenge Tour, Suing Despite Acknowledging Rittenhouse's Self-Defense Rights

A man who survived being shot by Kyle Rittenhouse almost four years ago is suing and speaking out against him, despite acknowledging that Rittenhouse acted within his rights to self-defense.

Rittenhouse, who was just 17 at the time, garnered national attention for shooting and killing two men, Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and injuring another, then known as Gaige Grosskreutz, who has since changed his name to Paul Prediger. The incident occurred during a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, amid the fiery Black Lives Matter demonstrations across the nation in August 2020. Rittenhouse argued that he acted in self-defense, using a semi-automatic AR-15-style firearm. Despite facing serious charges, including first-degree intentional homicide, Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges in November 2021.

Prediger's name change in 2022 followed what he described as post-trial harassment that he attributes to causing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, physical pain, and difficulties finding employment. This change aimed to afford Prediger some level of anonymity from the attention associated with the shooting incident and its aftermath. Prediger's new name became public knowledge following a hit-and-run incident he was involved in in September 2023.

Prediger and the estate of Anthony Huber have filed civil lawsuits against Rittenhouse in the Eastern District of Wisconsin. These lawsuits have survived motions to dismiss and are proceeding to trial. To streamline the legal process, the cases have been consolidated for the purposes of discovery, and Rittenhouse is slated to be deposed later this month, according to reports based on claims made by David Hancock. Hancock previously served as a spokesman for the Rittenhouse family during media coverage of the case. However, his recent statement appears to make allegations that indicate a severed relationship.

In an interview with Newsweek, Prediger says that most of his family members support the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump, leaving him isolated.

Prediger said:

[dont'] talk to pretty much anybody in my family anymore because of this. I mean, obviously, I still talk to my mom. She loves me, she supports me and believes in what I'm doing and believes that I'm right. But you know, there's like the physical and mental trauma, but it's all this s*** that comes with it. It's hard to find a job, I've always got to double-check what I'm doing or who I give my phone number out to, who I let know where I live—things like that. Because all it takes is just one person to jeopardize your privacy...

In the interview, Prediger, who pointed a firearm at Rittenhouse in Kenosha, made contradictory and bizarre statements alongside concessions, acknowledging that Rittenhouse acted within his rights to shoot in self-defense, which resulted in Prediger losing part of his forearm. Prediger seems to believe that facing a double murder trial was a benefit in Rittenhouse's favor, as he maintains that Rittenhouse should be "held accountable."

Prediger said:

Rittenhouse says that he has PTSD or he has trouble being out in public space, and I don't believe that, because he's been out speaking since he was acquitted. Everybody processes PTSD differently. I'm not here trying to say that he wasn't affected by what he did. Unless you're just some completely effective sociopath, you'll feel something for having to shoot and kill somebody.
But I just, I don't know. He had his right to do what he did—what he had to do. But I'm not believing that he was really negatively affected from this. I think Kyle Rittenhouse is the only person who came out on top in this situation. He should have been held accountable. And I'm not just saying that to be biased because he shot me. But I digress.

During the interview, Prediger made many derogatory comments about Rittenhouse, including calling him "an idiot" and a "dumb kid," and said, "I don't think the kid has an original thought at all."

Prediger vows to confront Rittenhouse directly at the civil trial he describes as "a firm "F*** you," and intends to use the trial to "take him down" and as a platform to show the world his perspective of Rittenhouse, whom he sees as a "fraud" and a "poster boy" for his rise as a figure in both the conservative movement and firearms community.

Prediger said:

Had you asked me this question two years ago, my response would have been a little more sympathetic, but no. Anything I need to say to him, I'll say at the civil trial—and I don't mean like in a childish, petty kind of way. But there's nothing that I need to say to him personally. It's just my goal to take him down on this trial, and show the world what he is. And I think that'll speak enough within itself.

Prediger's comments strongly suggest that his civil lawsuit and criticisms of Rittenhouse are fueled by personal animosity and a quest for retribution rather than a genuine pursuit of accountability or addressing legal concerns. His decision to change his name to escape public scrutiny contrasts sharply with his current intent to use the civil trial as a means of exacting revenge and shaping public opinion against Rittenhouse. As Rittenhouse once again finds himself in Prediger's crosshairs, he must keep a steady hand to navigate the civil proceedings in the face of clear personal and political vendettas.