Chauvin intends to plead guilty to violating George Floyd's civil rights, court filing shows

Chauvin intends to plead guilty to violating George Floyd's civil rights, court filing shows
Source: Washington Post

Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murder in the death of George Floyd, signaled Monday that he intends to plead guilty in a separate federal civil rights case, court records show. Chauvin had previously pleaded not guilty to a federal charge that he violated Floyd’s constitutional rights during a deadly 2020 encounter in which several officers restrained and handcuffed Floyd face down on a Minneapolis street.

The incident, captured on video, sparked massive demonstrations and calls for change at police departments across the country. A court entry posted Monday indicated Chauvin, who pressed his knees into Floyd’s neck and back for nine minutes and 29 seconds, intends to change his plea. A hearing was scheduled in the case for Wednesday.

A Justice Department spokeswoman declined to comment, and an attorney for Chauvin did not immediately return a message. Chauvin was convicted in April of murder in a case brought by Minnesota authorities and was sentenced to 22 and 1/2 years in prison. A federal grand jury indicted him and three other officers on charges of violating Floyd’s civil rights the next month, exposing him to more possible prison time.

The details of Chauvin’s plea were not immediately filed in court, and it was not clear what he would admit or what benefit he would receive for doing so. The change of plea must still be accepted by a federal judge.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/derek-chauvin-civil-rights-floyd/2021/12/13/dcf0c85e-5c4d-11ec-8665-aed48580f911_story.html