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Trial for man accused of igniting deadly Palisades Fire comes to frustrating end

1 week 4 days ago


The case against Jonathan Rinderknecht, the man accused of igniting the devastating Palisades Fire in 2025 that resulted in 12 deaths and over 6,800 structures being destroyed, came to a frustrating close on Friday.

Rinderknecht, a 30-year-old former Uber driver, faced three federal charges of destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and timber set afire. He was accused of “maliciously” damaging and destroying buildings and property, but a mistrial was ultimately declared in his case.

'We fully intend to retry this case before a new jury and obtain guilty verdicts on all charged counts.'

Rinderknecht faced up to 45 years in prison. He pleaded not guilty in October.

Prosecutors claimed that several of Rinderknecht’s Uber passengers described him as “angry, intense, driving erratically, and ranting about being ‘pissed off at the world.’” He also allegedly talked about Luigi Mangione, capitalism, and vigilantism.

When asked about why someone might have started the fire, Rinderknecht allegedly responded that it could be “out of resentment of the rich,” according to prosecutors.

After 13 hours of deliberations, the jury was deadlocked, with jurors on both sides “unwilling to change their opinion,” according to a note sent to U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang. The jurors informed Hwang that they were “at a standstill” and unsure of how to proceed after a final vote of 10-2 for acquittal.

RELATED: Suspect in deadly Palisades Fire was obsessed with Luigi Mangione, critical of rich: Prosecutors

AGUSTIN PAULLIER/AFP/Getty Images

Federal prosecutors agreed to a mistrial after the jurors confirmed they could not reach a unanimous decision on any of the three counts in the case.

“The court finds there’s a manifest necessity to declare a mistrial in this case due to a jury deadlock,” Hwang said.

Defense attorney Steve Haney stated, “Ten to two is a pretty resounding indication of what the jury felt about this case, and we felt that way from the very beginning.”

RELATED: Feds make arrest in connection with devastating Palisades Fire in Los Angeles

Apu Gomes/Getty Images

Shortly after the mistrial was announced, first assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli stated that he intends to retry the case.

“The evidence is strong that Jonathan Rinderknecht is responsible for igniting the fire on January 1, 2025, which eventually became the Palisades fire. We fully intend to retry this case before a new jury and obtain guilty verdicts on all charged counts,” Essayli wrote.

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Candace Hathaway

John Bolton Pleads Guilty To Retaining National Security Information

1 week 4 days ago
Please Follow us on Truth Social, X , Youtube , Minds, Telegram, Rumble, GETTR, Gab, Instagram John Bolton, who served as national security adviser to former President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty Friday to a single count of unlawfully retaining national security information from his time in the Trump administration. Bolton entered the plea during a re-arraignment hearing […]
CDM Staff

Democratic lawmakers organize to TAKE BACK the party from far-left socialists: 'We're proud of America'

1 week 4 days ago


A group of Democrats identifying as moderate say they are organizing to oppose the extremist policies of the far right as well as those of the socialists on the far left.

The moderate-identifying Democrats are unhappy about the recent victories of far-left extremists in places like New York City, where Democratic incumbents lost in primaries this week. About a dozen moderate-identifying Democrats signed on the pledge at the "Promise to America" website.

'Americans want safe communities and institutions that solve problems. We believe in building more to lower costs and expand opportunity.'

Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi of New York appeared on Fox News to publicize the effort.

"You know there are certain things that I believe in that are not being reflected in the current environment, especially with some of these races on Tuesday," said Suozzi.

"As we said in our pledge, we're for capitalism, not socialism. We're for safety, not lawlessness. We're proud of America, not ashamed of America — and we need to be promoting those things," he added. "The far left and the far right, you know, they're all very well organized. But those of us that don't support those far-left or far-right principles need to do a better job organizing and getting our message out."

"America is stronger than our politics. Politics forces false choices between extremes on right and left. We reject them," the group said in the pledge.

"Too many Americans have not benefited from the last half-century of economic growth," they added. "Americans want an economy that lowers costs, expands opportunity, and rewards the people who work hard every day. Americans want safe communities and institutions that solve problems. We believe in building more to lower costs and expand opportunity. We believe Democrats succeed when we speak to the whole country and value persuasion over purity."

The website asks supporters of the cause to sign the pledge as well.

RELATED: Hunter Biden wants Democrats to learn EXTREME lesson from NYC elections

The victories of far-left socialists backed by Democratic New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani have been seen by many as a revolution in the Democratic Party. Some, like Hunter Biden, have opined that the victories mean the Democratic Party needs to lurch into the far left and push harder for socialism.

Other Democrats who signed onto the moderate-identifying agenda include Rep. Adam Gray of California, Rep. Laura Gillen of New York, Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet of Michigan, and Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, among others.

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Carlos Garcia