Justice Dept. charges ex-Minneapolis police officers with violating George Floyd's civil rights

SummerMadness · May 7, 2021

Justice Dept. charges ex-Minneapolis police officers with violating George Floyd's civil rights

A federal grand jury on Friday indicted former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin and three other former officers on charges of violating George Floyd’s civil rights last year during the arrest that caused his death, a move that could offer another measure of accountability in a case that sparked nationwide protests over abusive policing.

Justice Department prosecutors said Chauvin, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao, who took part in apprehending Floyd, who was Black, will stand trial on two counts apiece. Former officer Thomas Lane will face a single charge in the case.

Justice Department Brings Federal Criminal Charges Against Derek Chauvin, 3 Others

The Justice Department has filed federal criminal charges against Derek Chauvin, accusing the former police officer of using excessive force and violating the civil rights of George Floyd. Floyd died after Chauvin pressed on his neck for more than nine minutes on the pavement outside a convenience store in Minneapolis last year.

Three other officers on the scene that day — Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao — have been charged federally in connection with Floyd's death. They already are preparing for a state trial in August.

Arcangl86 · May 7, 2021

Ugh. I actually disagree with this. It would have been one thing if the feds had made this decision before the state decided to prosecute, but now it smacks of double jeopardy to me, even though I know it's not legally.

The IbanezerScrooge · May 7, 2021

Arcangl86 said:
Ugh. I actually disagree with this. It would have been one thing if the feds had made this decision before the state decided to prosecute, but now it smacks of double jeopardy to me, even though I know it's not legally.

It would only be that for Chauvin since the other officers weren't charged with anything. And as you said it's not legally double jeopardy. It's a completely different crime by a completely different jurisdiction.

Silverback · May 7, 2021

SummerMadness said:
Justice Dept. charges ex-Minneapolis police officers with violating George Floyd's civil rights

Justice Department Brings Federal Criminal Charges Against Derek Chauvin, 3 Others

Is this a criminal indictment? or something in civil court? If it's criminal, Chauvin will never get out of prison.

Yttrium · May 7, 2021

The IbanezerScrooge said:
It would only be that for Chauvin since the other officers weren't charged with anything. And as you said it's not legally double jeopardy. It's a completely different crime by a completely different jurisdiction.

The other officers were charged by the state with aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter. Their trial is slated for August.

disciple Clint · May 7, 2021

SummerMadness said:
Justice Dept. charges ex-Minneapolis police officers with violating George Floyd's civil rights

Justice Department Brings Federal Criminal Charges Against Derek Chauvin, 3 Others

This provides a very good example of why there is no need what so ever to eliminate "qualified immunity". Obviously there are local and federal charges for the few who should never have been commissioned police officers.

Pommer · May 7, 2021

disciple Clint said:
This provides a very good example of why there is no need what so ever to eliminate "qualified immunity". Obviously there are local and federal charges for the few who should never have been commissioned police officers.

Are you seriously arguing that it is necessary for Law Enforcement Officers to be outside the reach of the Law, except in horrific cases like this?

disciple Clint · May 7, 2021

Pommer said:
Are you seriously arguing that it is necessary for Law Enforcement Officers to be outside the reach of the Law, except in horrific cases like this?

NO I did not say that at all, I said there are laws that cover the police and provide penalties for improper actions.

Pommer · May 8, 2021

disciple Clint said:
NO I did not say that at all, I said there are laws that cover the police and provide penalties for improper actions.

Well, obviously those laws/penalties need to be revamped because it’s not working for everyone involved.

disciple Clint · May 8, 2021

Pommer said:
Well, obviously those laws/penalties need to be revamped because it’s not working for everyone involved.

They are working, they just worked, what more is there to be said, some people are not happy even when it is proven that system works as designed and provides justice for all.

The IbanezerScrooge · May 8, 2021

Yttrium said:
The other officers were charged by the state with aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter. Their trial is slated for August.

Ah, I didn't know that. Thanks!

Pommer · May 8, 2021

disciple Clint said:
They are working, they just worked, what more is there to be said, some people are not happy even when it is proven that system works as designed and provides justice for all.

Maybe the system would work better if there was no need for a trial, by, you know, not murdering a man in the street in broad daylight?

Ana the Ist · May 8, 2021

Pommer said:
Are you seriously arguing that it is necessary for Law Enforcement Officers to be outside the reach of the Law, except in horrific cases like this?

They aren't outside of the reach of the law. We all just saw the guy get convicted.

disciple Clint · May 9, 2021

Pommer said:
Maybe the system would work better if there was no need for a trial, by, you know, not murdering a man in the street in broad daylight?

Now there is no excuse for murder regardless if it is one black person killed by police or the more than 8.000 killed by others every year.

Arcangl86 · May 9, 2021

Ana the Ist said:
They aren't outside of the reach of the law. We all just saw the guy get convicted.

And we were waiting on tetherhooks for the verdict. Nobody knew for sure how it was going to turn out, for what should have been a slam dunk case.

SummerMadness · May 9, 2021

It's funny to see the people bellyaching over the verdict claiming the system is fair and working. Meanwhile, this case is the exception to the rule where too many police officers escape prosecution for doing something similar.

Landon Caeli · May 9, 2021

The Justice Dept. is totally woke now.

Pommer · May 9, 2021

Ana the Ist said:
They aren't outside of the reach of the law. We all just saw the guy get convicted.

And we all saw what the Herculean effort it took, and there’s still people who need to defend this.
Our dialog is with those people, not the folk who believe that justice was kinda, sorta done in this one instance.

Ana the Ist · May 9, 2021

Pommer said:
And we all saw what the Herculean effort it took, and there’s still people who need to defend this.

They deliberated for 10 hours.

Our dialog is with those people, not the folk who believe that justice was kinda, sorta done in this one instance.

Dialogue requires listening. You're preaching.

Pommer · May 9, 2021

Ana the Ist said:
They deliberated for 10 hours.

Dialogue requires listening. You're preaching.

Oh, please Bishop!

Justice Dept. charges ex-Minneapolis police officers with violating George Floyd's civil rights

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