George Floyd: Trump reacts to calls for killer cop’s pardon

President Donald Trump has broken his silence on calls to pardon Derek Chauvin, the white police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd.

Trump claimed he wasn’t aware of the effort to have him pardon Chauvin, saying “No, I haven’t even heard about it.”

This comes after conservative commentator Ben Shapiro publicly called on Trump to pardon Chauvin for the federal crimes associated with Floyd’s death, with Elon Musk retweeting Shapiro’s post and commenting “Something to think about.”

Chauvin was convicted in April 2021 on state charges of unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.

He was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison on the state charges and received an additional 21 years for federal charges, which he is serving concurrently.

The incident sparked widespread protests and propelled the Black Lives Matter movement to the forefront of American politics.

Trump has been criticized for his handling of the protests, including a controversial moment where he held up a Bible in front of St. John’s Church after protesters were tear-gassed.

The Trump administration has also been accused of trying to undo racially sensitive measures put in place after Floyd’s death.

Trump denies knowledge of the development

Since taking office in January, Trump has purged the federal government of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs aimed at diversifying the federal workforce.

In related news, George Floyd’s brother has spoken out against Musk’s plan to pardon Chauvin, calling it “unthinkable.”

Meanwhile, Trump’s administration is facing criticism for its handling of racial issues, including a recent move to revert Fort Liberty’s name to Fort Bragg, which was previously named after a Confederate general.

Background

George Floyd was a 46-year-old African American man who was killed during an arrest by Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 25, 2020.

The arrest was made after a convenience store employee called the police, accusing Floyd of attempting to purchase cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 bill.

During the arrest, Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for approximately 9 minutes and 29 seconds, despite Floyd’s repeated pleas for help, saying he couldn’t breathe.

Floyd eventually lost consciousness and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The incident was captured on video by bystanders, which showed Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck, and Floyd’s distress and eventual loss of consciousness.

The video sparked widespread outrage and protests across the United States and globally, with many calling for an end to systemic racism and police brutality.

Derek Chauvin was later arrested and charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in connection with Floyd’s death.

He was convicted on all counts in April 2021 and sentenced to 22.5 years in prison.

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