As the country awaits a jury verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, President Biden said Tuesday he “prays that the verdict is the correct verdict.”
The president spoke briefly with White House reporters and discussed his call Monday with the family of George Floyd, the Blackman in Minnesota who died after being seen on video – handcuffed – saying, “I can not breathe” while Chauvin knelt down. on Floyd’s neck. His deaths have raged nationwide this past spring and summer over police brutality against minorities and systemic racism.
Chauvin is charged with second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s death. He pleaded not guilty to all three charges.
PRESIDENT OFFERED MONDAY CALL WITH GEORGE FLOYD’S FAMILY
Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, said in an interview with NBC News early Tuesday morning that the president called the Floyd family Monday after the jury began deliberating at the trial.
President Biden speaks during a meeting with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in the Oval Office of the White House on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 in Washington. (AP Photo / Evan Vucci)
(AP Photo / Evan Vucci)
“I can only imagine how stressful and anxious they feel, so I waited until the jury was sequestered, and I called,” Biden explained. “I would not say anything about it, but Philonise said on television today, and he said exactly that it was a private conversation, because Joe understands what it was like to go through loss. They are a good family, and they “I ask for peace and tranquility no matter what the verdict is. I pray that the verdict is in my opinion the right verdict, which I think is overwhelming. I would not say it unless the jury is now sequestered.”
Biden called the Floyd family last year – shortly after Floyd’s death, which took place during the 2020 presidential election campaign – and later the then presidential candidate traveled to Houston to meet with the family, expressing his condolences.
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On Monday, the judge at the Chauvin trial said he wished elected officials would stop referring the case “especially in a way that is disrespectful to the rule of law” to have the lawsuits unfold as intended.
Judge Peter Cahill this weekend referred to controversial comments by Democratic Representative Maxine Waters, who urged Minnesota protesters to “stay on the streets” and “become more confrontational” if Chauvin is not convicted.
“I will inform you that Congresswoman Waters has given you on appeal something that could lead to the entire trial being overturned,” Cahill told Chauvin’s attorney.
Biden’s comments responded quickly to some experts, including former Trump attorney Jenna Ellis, who tweeted: “RIP due process.”