Gov. Tim Walz, the Minnesota National Guard, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt have reportedly all been briefed on preparations for potential riots if former police officer Derek Chauvin is granted a presidential pardon.
Chauvin, of course, was the officer filmed kneeling on drug addict George Floyd during his fatal interaction with police. His death caused nationwide deadly Black Lives Matter riots throughout the summer of 2020.
According to a report from local station KSTP, “Multiple sources told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that Gov. Tim Walz, the Minnesota National Guard, Mayor Jacob Frey and Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt have all been briefed on preparations for possible civil unrest if President Donald Trump pardons former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin for his federal conviction of killing George Floyd.”
“Sources also told KSTP the Minnesota Department of Corrections is ready to pick up Chauvin at a federal penitentiary in Arizona, and bring him back to Oak Park Heights Prison in Minnesota to serve the remainder of his 22-and-a-half-year sentence,” the report added.
However, antifa-supporting Attorney General Keith Ellison told MSNBC over the weekend that Chauvin will not be released.
“He still owes Minnesota 22-and-a-half years. And, he’s going to do it either in Minnesota or somewhere, but he’s not getting out,” Ellison asserted.
On Monday, Gov. Walz told the media, “No indication whether they’re going to do it, but I think it behooves us to be prepared for it. With this presidency, it seems like something they would do.”
The former officer is currently serving two state and federal 21-year sentences for violating Floyd’s civil rights and second-degree murder.
Chauvin was stabbed 22 times by fellow inmate John Turscak at the medium-security Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Tucson, Arizona, in 2023.
President Donald Trump has not publicly indicated if he is considering pardoning Chauvin.
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