Kenosha mayor has close family ties to lead detective, prosecuting DA in Rittenhouse case

Kenosha Mayor John Antaramain has been mayor of the city for six terms, spanning from 1992 to 2008, and then again from 2016 to 2024. According to the Kenosha County Eye, Antaramain is rumored not to be seeking reelection due to backlash from his response to the Kenosha riots of last summer.

"We didn't hear from him. He didn't lead," wrote the Kenosha County Eye.

"John has a lot at stake in the Rittenhouse trial. He wants Kyle convicted. He wants Kyle to take the blame and distract us from his failures as our leader. Lucky for John, he has a lot of powerful family members in charge here in Kenosha," they continued.

The lead detective in the Rittenhouse case reportedly is the mayor's nephew, Benjamin Antaramian, who allegedly wants to connect Rittenhouse to the "Kenosha Guard" Facebook page despite proof from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg proving otherwise.

The Mmyor's cousin is reportedly the Kenosha City Attorney Ed Antaramian. Mayor Antaramian's nephew is Kenosha City Judge Michael Easton. Another nephew of his is State Representative Thaddeus McGuire. Another cousin of his is County Board Supervisor Laura Belsky, the Kenosha County Eye reported.

Rittenhouse is currently on trial for charges stemming from his alleged actions on Aug. 25, 2020. During the Kenosha riots which sparked after Jacob Blake was shot by a police officer, Rittenhouse shot at three rioters, killing two of them. Rittenhouse's team of lawyers is arguing that he fired in self-defense that night.