Minnesota AG Expects Criminal Charges Against Police Officers Involved In George Floyd’s Death

on March 21, 2017 in Washington, DC.
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) speaks during a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol on 21, 2017. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said on Friday morning that he expected the four Minneapolis police officers who were involved in the death of George Floyd, a black man who died earlier this week after one of the officers dug his knee into Floyd’s neck for several minutes, would face criminal charges.

“I anticipate there will be charges. I hope they’re soon,” Ellison told CNN.

However, he noted that the charges against Derick Chauvin, the officer who kneeled on Floyd’s neck, and the other three officers standing nearby would be “the prerogative of another prosecuting authority,” who are “trying to make sure their case is strong and airtight.”

“Everybody believes that this is a violation of Mr. Floyd. And I believe that everybody wants to see these charges filed as soon as they can be,” the attorney general said. “But again, I do want to say we have seen cases that seem so clear go south.”

The FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are investigating Floyd’s death, which was caught on camera by a onlooker at the scene.

Additionally, Chauvin and the police officers involved in the incident have been fired.

Floyd’s death sparked violent protests in Minneapolis, which have been roiling the city for the past several days.

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. How is trump going to spin this in to an insult to Attorney General Keith Ellison? Can he speak out of both sides of his mouth on this?

  2. How soon do Fat Nixon and LowBarr intercede where they have no authority?

  3. trying to make sure their case is strong and airtight.

    Have they not seen the video? Or maybe they are blind

  4. “Everybody believes that this is a violation of Mr. Floyd."

    A violation, why yes it is, he’s dead for suspected forgery and killed by a racist cop.
    These people really know how to watch their language. Call it what it is.

  5. Cops have a lot of legal leeway that the average citizen does not.

    Charge him with the wrong thing, he may well walk at the end of it.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

75 more replies

Participants

Avatar for discobot Avatar for paulw Avatar for mondfledermaus Avatar for clemmers Avatar for callmeeric Avatar for ralph_vonholst Avatar for fossilhead Avatar for left_in_washington_state Avatar for mrf Avatar for mainemomma Avatar for thunderclapnewman Avatar for established_1781 Avatar for bankerpup Avatar for wickedwillie64 Avatar for castor_troy Avatar for expatls1954 Avatar for uneducated Avatar for kelaine Avatar for zillacop Avatar for jwbuho Avatar for c_stedman Avatar for rockitttla Avatar for Hatmama Avatar for Psych

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: