FILE - A police officer points a hand cannon at protesters who have been detained pending arrest on South Washington Street in Minneapolis, May 31, 2020, as protests continued following the death of George Floyd (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Governor Tim Walz is responding to reports that former Minneapolis Police Derek Chauvin may receive a presidential pardon.
Walz told reporters in St. Paul there’s “no indication whether they’re going to do it or not,” referring to the Trump administration.
Walz added, “I think it behooves us to be prepared, and with this presidency, it seems like that might be something they would do.” The governor said he’s against Chauvin receiving a federal pardon, but acknowledged that President Trump has a “constitutional right” to do so.
The murder of George Floyd by Chauvin was nearly five years ago. He was sentenced to more than 22 years after he was convicted by a Hennepin County District Court jury in Minneapolis. His federal civil rights conviction resulted in a 21 year prison term.
The killing led to days of rioting and fires in Minneapolis.
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