Things are reportedly getting quite tense in the deep blue state of Minnesota as rumors swirl that President Donald Trump could pardon former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin for his federal conviction of killing George Floyd, the spring of 2020 incident that led to months of riots that caused billions of dollars of damage.
As background, Mr. Chauvin was convicted on both state and federal charges. His state conviction on a murder charge led to his being convicted for 22 and a half years in state prison, but he was also convicted of 21 years on a federal charge related to civil rights. His sentences were to be served concurrently.
Now, Trump might pardon him on the federal charge and authorities think riots could result from that pardon, if it occurs. Such is what sources reportedly told ABC 5 KSTE, which reported that much-detested and much-mocked Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a far-left Democrat, is meeting with officials in the Minnesota National Guard along with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt in preparation for potentially massive civil unrest if the pardon occurs.
Further, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported that though President Trump has not directly said if a pardon will be forthcoming, Gov. Walz believes the rumors that such a pardon could occur, and so has commented on the matter in addition to readying authorities for potentially massive riots that could occur in the wake of a pardon.
According to that paper, Gov. Walz said that Chauvin will not be released on the state charge, saying, “If Donald Trump exercises his constitutional right to do so, whether I agree — and I strongly disagree with him — if he issues that pardon we will simply transfer Derek Chauvin to serve out his 22-and-a-half years in prison in Minnesota.”
Continuing, the governor reportedly said that though he hasn’t gotten word on if a pardon is coming, the state is getting prepared, saying, “So, no indication whether they’re going to do it or not, but I think it behooves us to be prepared for it. With this presidency, it seems like that might be something they would do.”
Further, the Star Tribune reported that Minneapolis Community Safety Commissioner Toddrick Barnette said, “We’ve heard the same rumors as everyone else – but the bottom line is that Derek Chauvin would remain behind bars serving his state sentence even if his federal charges are pardoned.“
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Continuing, the safety commissioner reportedly said, “To be clear, we have no credible intelligence about any pardon or planned disruptions here in Minneapolis. Since 2020, we’ve overhauled our emergency management plans and out of an abundance of caution are planning for any eventuality.”
The paper also reported that Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, whose office prosecuted Chauvin on the state charge, said, “Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd in front of the whole world. Trump has no power to pardon Chauvin’s state conviction. None. A pardon of Chauvin’s federal conviction would return him to Minnesota to serve the rest of his sentence in state prison. The only conceivable purpose would be to express yet more disrespect for George Floyd and more disrespect for the rule of law.”