Monday, June 30, 2025
spot_imgspot_img
Monday, June 30, 2025

Milwaukee Press Club 'Excellence in Wisconsin Journalism' 2020 & 2021 Award Winners

Yes, Journal Sentinel, Joseph D. Rosenbaum’s Criminal Record IS Relevant

spot_img

Update: A Wisconsin jury found Rittenhouse not guilty of all charges on Nov. 19, 2021. Read our story on the verdict here. Read all of our Rittenhouse exclusives here.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s decision to censor the criminal records of Joseph D. Rosenbaum, Anthony Huber, and Gaige Grosskreutz is just plain wrong and harms the search for the truth. That’s especially true in the case of Rosenbaum, a 36-year-old adult sex offender out on bail for battery and bail jumping accusations, who, a case can be made, was the instigator the night that Kyle Rittenhouse, a juvenile without a criminal history, opened fire.

Arizona courts ordered Rosenbaum, who was accused of molesting and/or engaging in inappropriate sexual activity with five boys, to have “no contact with minors under the age of 18 without permission from the Court.” Rittenhouse was 17, and Rosenbaum was chasing him when shot. That sounds relevant to us.

In Aug. 28, we wrote an opinion piece titled, Why We’ve Decided to Tell You the Criminal Records of the Men Shot in Kenosha.”

On Sept. 2, the Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin’s largest daily newspaper, countered with an article titled, Why we aren’t reporting on the records of the victims of the Kenosha protest shooting.”

Joseph d. Rosenbaum
Our headline on the criminal records of joseph d. Rosenbaum and the other men.
Joseph d. Rosenbaum
The journal sentinel headline on the records of joseph d. Rosenbaum and the other men.

 

That’s interesting: a newspaper censoring facts readers need to fully understand the context surrounding shootings in which a credible claim of self defense has been made. The adult men shot were all confronting, attacking or chasing Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old. The president said Rittenhouse was “violently attacked.” To assess whether that’s true, it’s helpful to know that two of the men accused of doing the violent attacking (Anthony Huber and Rosenbaum) were previously accused in criminal courts of violently attacking people. Of course, it’s also on video.

The newspaper explained its censorship this way:

There is no evidence so far that the backgrounds of the three victims — Anthony Huber, Joseph Rosenbaum and Gaige Grosskreutz — had anything to do with the clashes that led to the deaths of Huber and Rosenbaum and the wounding of Grosskreutz. They are the victims of a shooting, and as far as we can tell their past legal records have no bearing on them being shot during a protest. If more facts emerge that show their backgrounds are relevant to what happened that night in Kenosha, we would revisit our decision. For instance, if there is evidence that any of the victims’ backgrounds could have affected their interactions with Rittenhouse, or if he knew anything about them before the shooting.

Here’s why the Journal Sentinel’s reasoning is flawed and the wrong call:


There IS Evidence the Men’s Backgrounds Had Something to Do With Their Behavior That Night; That’s Especially True of Joseph D. Rosenbaum

Rosenbaum was a registered sex offender who was out on bond for a domestic abuse battery accusation and was caught on video acting aggressively just prior to the shooting, that night, using a racial slur. Rosenbaum is seen pushing a dumpster that was on fire. Witnesses told us people were pushing the flaming dumpster toward squad cars.

We obtained the court records for the Arizona sex offense that landed him on Wisconsin’s sex offender registry (see them here.) They say that he raped, molested or was sexually inappropriate around five boys between the ages of 9 and 11, one of whom was burned. In prison, Rosenbaum racked up dozens of infractions, including multiple violations for assaulting staff.

Minutes after the disturbance at the gas station, Rosenbaum tied his red shirt around his face and head – a witness told Wisconsin Right Now that he spent some time “intricately” doing so, stating he believed he did it to conceal his identity. Rosenbaum is then observed chasing down Rittenhouse, throwing a bag at him and cornering him behind cars. Screenshots show Rosenbaum after he was shot lying on the ground with his red shirt only tied around his head. Why would Rosenbaum try to conceal his identity?

Joseph d. Rosenbaum
Joseph d. Rosenbaum

According to the criminal complaint:

McGinnis (a citizen witness) stated that there were other people that were moving very quickly. McGinnis stated that they were moving towards the defendant. McGinnis said that according to what he saw the defendant was trying to evade these individuals.

McGinnis said that the unarmed guy (Rosenbaum) was trying to get the defendant’s gun. McGinnis demonstrated by extending both of his hands in a quick grabbing motion and did that as a visual on how Rosenbaum tried to reach for the defendant’s gun. Detective Cepress indicates that he asked McGinnis if Rosenbaum had his hands on the gun when the defendant shot. McGinnis said that he definitely made a motion that he was trying to grab the barrel of the gun. McGinnis stated that the defendant pulled it away and then raised it.

 

Huber was a felon convicted in a strangulation case who was recently accused of a domestic abuse-related crime. He was confronting and making contact with Rittenhouse with a skateboard when shot. Grosskreutz was convicted of a crime for use of a firearm while intoxicated. Since he was armed with a handgun and moving toward Rittenhouse when shot, according to the criminal complaint, that seems relevant to us too. Minimally, we think readers should be told the information so they can decide how relevant it is.

Let’s be clear. The criminal records of all people who are shot and killed are NOT relevant. For example, for the sake of argument, let’s take the active shooter who gunned people down at an El Paso Walmart. Whether the victims had criminal records or not is completely irrelevant in that instance. However, this case is different because it’s arguably unclear who was victim and who was aggressor. Rittenhouse’s attorney argues he was attacked by a vicious mob. Video makes that a persuasive argument. Prosecutors say it’s homicide. Eventually a jury may be asked to decide.

Can past violent criminal behavior predict future offense? Yes, according to studies. In one U.S. Department of Justice study, 83% of prisoners were arrested nine years after release. Violent offenders were more likely to… commit violent offenses. Both Rosenbaum and Huber already were repeat offenders.


Kyle Rittenhouse Was Putting an Arson Fire Out Right Before the Shooting

The newspaper contends that clashes “led to the deaths.” There’s no evidence that Rittenhouse was involved in aggressive behavior toward people before the shootings; he was trying to put an arson fire out, witnesses and video show. Here’s what we’ve pieced together of Rittenhouse’s actions that day, from eyewitnesses (we were in Kenosha for five days/nights), video, the criminal complaint, and his lawyer’s statement.

Rittenhouse worked as a community lifeguard and then went to help clean graffiti off buildings. A local business owner, David Prill, told us Rittenhouse was hired to help guard a local business. He was seen performing medic duties.

Shortly before the shooting, a group of men, including Joseph D. Rosenbaum, congregated at a gas station and started the dumpster on fire. Witnesses Dylan and Justice Putnam told us Rosenbaum’s group was pushing it toward police cars. The citizen “militia” members at the gas station had fire extinguishers and were trying to put it out. That’s on video.

The Putnams said they thought Rosenbaum was chasing Rittenhouse to rob him. Was he? We will never know what he would have done if he had caught Rittenhouse. Here’s what else they told us:

“Rosenbaum was irate. He was looking for some kind of altercation.”

“He (Rosenbaum) was intricately wrapping it (his shirt around his head) to conceal his identity.”

“He (Kyle) looked like the weakest member of the group.”

“I think he (Rittenhouse) came by himself with the fire extinguisher.”

“He (Rosenbaum) accused us of pointing a rifle at him.”

“Rosenbaum was angry (that people were using fire extinguishers)” and said, “Why did you do that?” to people trying to put the fire out.

There’s video showing Rosenbaum pushing the burning dumpster (arson is a crime, as is threatening law enforcement officers with a fire). There’s also video showing Rittenhouse trying to put it out with a fire extinguisher. The Putnams told us this is what enraged Rosenbaum so much that, when Rittenhouse walked off, he chased him down.

https://twitter.com/MarkDice/status/1298756466417864704

What do people think Rittenhouse should have done instead? He was trapped behind cars with rioters actively damaging cars behind him (that’s on video), and someone else had just fired a gun. Do people really believe that Rosenbaum, who was caught on video acting aggressively just moments before, would have exchanged pleasantries?


It’s Not True That the Men Were Shot ‘During a Protest’

It extremely misleading to say, as the Journal Sentinel did, that the men were “shot during a protest.”

Watch the above video. Does it look like a “protest” to you?

We were there that night. What started out as a protest in the park turned into standoffs with police, who were pelted with bottles and fireworks. Law enforcement then pushed people out of the park, and they spilled into city streets.

The clashes broke out at a gas station down the street.

If it was a protest earlier, it wasn’t then. The totality of the circumstances make the men’s criminal histories relevant. They weren’t shot while sitting in church. They injected themselves into a scene of unfolding criminal behavior (we acknowledge it’s possible that Huber and Grosskreutz, also a medic, thought they were stopping an active shooter even as Rittenhouse thought he was under attack. However, it’s the mindset of the defendant that’s relevant to the legal determination of self defense.)


Half-reported Biographies Are Misleading

Anthony huber
Huber mugshot in past case

The Journal Sentinel and other newspapers have printed stories about “who the men were.”

To give people a sanitized version of their lives is misleading at best. If you’re going to write a biographical profile, tell the truth. Everyone who dies tragically is not a saint with a halo. People are complicated, and these men surely were too, mixes of good and not so good.

Instead, we got an Aug. 26 article from the Journal Sentinel called, “What we know about the victims of the Kenosha protest shooting that killed two men and injured another.” Except the newspaper either left out a lot of what it knew or didn’t do the legwork to find out.

We’re told by the Journal Sentinel only that Huber was a “sweet” person but not that he was convicted of strangulation and false imprisonment. We’re told Rosenbaum leaves behind a fiancee and young daughter but not that he molested children and had an open domestic case.

Half truths are dishonest to readers when they’re presented as the full picture.

It’s not only the Journal Sentinel who did this. The New York Daily News described both deceased victims as “sweet” and “loving.” Were they? Maybe sometimes to some people. But certainly not to all.

The Journal Sentinel should revisit its decision and give readers the whole truth.

kendall corder

MPD Confirms Sad News That Officer Kendall Corder Has Died; Procession Unfolding

The Milwaukee Police Department has officially confirmed the tragic news that Officer Kendall Corder has died in the line of duty. Earlier in the day,...

Oconomowoc Rotary Refuses to Document ‘Threats’ & There’s No Police Reports

Getting criticized is hard, but reasonable criticism - even heated criticism - is not a threat. And it's what representative democracy is all about,...
kendall corder, tremaine jones

Tremaine Jones: Milwaukee DA Declined to Prosecute Him 4 Times Leading Up to Officer Shooting

KEY FINDINGS: Accused cop shooter Tremaine Jones was given a deferred prosecution agreement for a 2021 Milwaukee case involving a stolen Kia and...
Killed by Milwaukee Reckless Drivers Milwaukee Reckless Drivers Kill Box In Milwaukee Police

2 Milwaukee Police Officers Shot Near 25th & Garfield

Two Milwaukee police officers were shot on the evening of June 26, police confirmed. One officer remains in critical condition and the second does...
josh schoemann Washington County’s Early Vote

2026 GOP Candidate Josh Schoemann Challenges Evers’ Budget Approach

(The Center Square) – Josh Schoemann, the only Republican currently in the race for governor next year, is criticizing Gov. Tony Evers’ approach to the next state budget by comparing it to his plans in Washington County.

“In Washington County our budget cycle starts right now, and it’s not due until November. We will propose our budget goals to the County Board in the next couple of months. We will share ‘This is what we’re thinking.’ It gives them months of time to think those through, give us feedback, and [have] that kind of dialogue,” Schoemann explained in an interview on News Talk 1130 WISN.

Schoemann said that is far better than the approach Evers is taking again this year.

“That’s not how government is supposed to work,” Schoemann said. “It’s not the vision of the governor. It’s not the vision of any one person.”

Evers and the Republican legislative leaders who will write the budget have been involved in on-again, off-again budget talks this month. On Thursday, the governor’s office said those talks were off once again because of gridlock in the Senate.

“Ultimately, the Senate needs to decide whether they were elected to govern and get things done or not,” Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback said in a post on X.

Schoemann’s criticism of Evers is nothing new. He has long been a critic of the governor and has turned that criticism up since launching his campaign for governor.

But the recent criticism was also aimed at other Republicans who may jump into the 20206 governor’s race later this year.

“Nobody else in this race on the Republican side, being rumored to this point, has the executive leadership of skills and history to be able to show ‘This is how I’ve done it before, and here’s how we’ll do it Madison,’” Schoemann said. “The results in Washington County speak for themselves.”

Northwoods Congressman Tom Tiffany is also rumored to be looking to get into the Republican race. Before he went to Congress, Tiffany was a Republican lawmaker in Madison.

Businessman and veteran Bill Berrien is also on the short list of likely GOP candidates for 2026.

richard van buren

Richard Van Buren Arrested in Dodge County Dog’s Death, Sheriff Says

Richard Van Buren, the chairman of the Chester Town Board in Wisconsin, was arrested in the death of a golden retriever dog in rural...

Rep. Donovan, Greenfield Officials Outraged at Release of Accused Random Stabber

State Rep. Bob Donovan and top Greenfield officials are expressing outrage and concern over the release of a man who is accused of randomly...

Dodge County Dog’s Death Under Investigation by Wisconsin Sheriff

Update: Richard Van Buren, the chairman of the Town of Chester Board, has now been arrested. See the story here. The Dodge County Sheriff's Office...
Anthony LoCoco

Anthony LoCoco Running for WI Court of Appeals to Defend the Constitution

Note: Anthony LoCoco, of Waukesha, has worked for the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty and the Institute for Reforming Government. He is...

Milwaukee Alderman Voices Frustration at ‘Crumbling’ Roads, Massive Cost Estimate

The Common Council’s Finance and Personnel Committee heard from City Engineer Kevin Muhs today "about a newly released report from the Department of Public...

Oconomowoc Rotary Club Apologizes, Reverses Course After July 4 Parade Mess

The Oconomowoc Rotary Club has apologized for the mess surrounding its July 4 parade and will now allow political parties and elected representatives to...
Killed by Milwaukee Reckless Drivers Milwaukee Reckless Drivers Kill Box In Milwaukee Police

Milwaukee Police Officer Shot by Armed Suspect in Foot Chase, Department Says

Two ghost guns were recovered. A Milwaukee police officer was shot by an armed suspect who refused to drop his gun during a foot chase...

Milwaukee Police Association Raises Alarm on Low District 7 Staffing

The Milwaukee Police Association is raising the alarm about severely low staffing levels in District 7, one of the city's busiest police districts. The MPA,...
uw-madison Administrators at UW Schools

UW Employs 495 Foreign Nationals at Almost $43 Million a Year, But Won’t Release Their Names

With salaries ranging as high as $320,000 a year, are the foreign nationals getting taxpayer-funded jobs at UW instead of qualified U.S. citizens? The...
Governor’s Veto Powers Wisconsin Republicans Parental Bill of Rights Outlaw Child Sex Dolls Embrace Them Both Unemployment Reforms Wisconsin’s Professional Licensing Bail Reform Amendment wisconsin covid-19

Wisconsin Budget Negotiations Reach Impasse Between Evers, Legislature

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin budget negotiations have reached an impasse with both sides pointing fingers at the other in Wednesday afternoon statements.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said Republican Legislative leaders backed out of negotiations after he agreed to “an income tax cut targeting Wisconsin’s middle-class and working families and eliminating income taxes for certain retirees.” He said Republican leaders would not agree to “meaningful increased investments in child care, K-12 schools, and the University of Wisconsin System.”

Republican Assembly leaders said the two sides were "far apart. Senate leaders say Evers’ desires “extend beyond what taxpayers can afford.”

“The Joint Committee on Finance will continue using our long-established practices of crafting a state budget that contains meaningful tax relief and responsible spending levels with the goal of finishing on time,” said a statement from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Assembly Finance Co-Chairman Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam.

Evers said that there were meetings between the sides every day this week before the impasse.

“I told Republicans I’d support their half of the deal and their top tax priorities – even though they’re very similar to bills I previously vetoed – because I believe that’s how compromise is supposed to work, and I was ready to make that concession in order to get important things done for Wisconsin’s kids,” Evers said.

Senate Republican leadership said that good faith negotiations have occurred since April on a budget compromise.

“Both sides of these negotiations worked to find compromise and do what is best for the state of Wisconsin,” said a statement from Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, and Senate Joint Finance Co-Chairman Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green.

In early May, the Joint Committee on Finance took 612 items out of Gov. Tony Evers’ budget proposal, including Medicaid expansion in the state, department creations and tax exemptions.

Born previously estimated that Evers’ budget proposal would lead to $3 billion in tax increases over the two-year span.

Wisconsin Policy Forum estimated that the proposal would spend down more than $4 billion of the state’s expected $4.3 billion surplus if it is enacted.

hannah dugan

Milwaukee Police Refuse to Release NEW Hannah Dugan Body Cam Video, Citing Crime ‘Prevention,’ in Part

The Milwaukee Police Department has refused to release a new Hannah Dugan police body cam video, citing, in part, crime "prevention" and "detection" and...

DHS Puts 4 Wisconsin Cities & Counties on Formal Notice, Says They ‘Defy Federal Law’

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security placed two Wisconsin counties and two cities on notice on May 29, saying they are defying federal law...

DOJ Begins California Title IX Investigation Over ‘Trans’ Boys Dominating Girls’ Sports

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced it is investigating California for violating Title IX by allowing males to participate in female student sports.

“Title IX exists to protect women and girls in education,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general for Civil Rights. “It is perverse to allow males to compete against girls, invade their private spaces, and take their trophies.”

In February, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning males from participating in female student sports, and he has threatened to block California's federal funding for continuing to defy his order. With California facing deficits in the tens of billions of dollars each year, it's unclear how the state would offset any losses or pauses in federal funding.

Notably, California Gov. Gavin Newsom hosted conservative pundit Charlie Kirk on his podcast and told Kirk that he thinks it’s “deeply unfair” that boys are participating in girls’ sports.

When asked later at a press conference what this means for state policy, Newsom demurred, painting the matter as a marginal, non-issue not worth his time.

“You're talking about a very small number of people, a very small number of athletes, and my responsibility is to address the pressing issues of our time,” said Newsom.

The California Interscholastic Federation, which governs student sports in California, has since responded to Trump’s threat by announcing a new pilot program to allow girls who otherwise would have qualified for sports finals had the finalist spots in girls’ sports not been taken by transgender-identifying boys to participate in said finals.

Title IX was signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1972 to ensure that schools could not discriminate against female students. It requires they be provided with equal opportunities to engage in athletics, extracurriculars and education.

DOJ’s letter of interest says it is investigating whether California’s Assembly Bill 1266, which requires transgender-identifying students to be allowed to participate in sports consistent with their gender identities, violates Title IX.

“As a result of CIF’s policy, California’s top-ranked girls’ triple jumper, and second-ranked girls’ long-jumper, is a boy,” wrote the DOJ. “As recently as May 17, this male athlete was allowed to take winning titles that rightfully belong to female athletes in both events.”

“This male athlete will now be allowed to compete against those female athletes again for a state title in long, triple, and high jump,” continued the DOJ. “Other high school female athletes have alleged that they were likewise robbed of podium positions and spots on their teams after they were forced to compete against males.”

Should the DOJ find California is in violation of Title IX, it says it will “take appropriate action to eliminate that discrimination, including seeking injunctive relief.”

Untold: The Fall of Favre

REVIEW: The Despicable Netflix Hit Job on Brett Favre

In case you forgot, Michael Vick is a disgraced quarterback who spent time in prison for helping run a dogfighting ring where animals were...

Things My Father Taught Me [Up Against the Wall]

So guys, here’s a few things my father taught me that apparently a lot of younger guys didn’t have the opportunity to learn. Yes,...