Governor Tim Walz, the Minnesota National Guard, Mayor Jacob Frey and Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt have reportedly 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.
When asked by White House reporters in March about pardoning Chauvin, President Trump replied, "No, I have not heard about that."
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.
Over the weekend, Attorney General Ellison told MSNBC that Chauvin will not be set free.
"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," said Ellison.
Then, on Monday, when asked about the possibility of a pardon, Gov. Walz told reporters, “No indication whether they’re going to do it, or not, but I think it behooves us to be prepared for it. With this presidency, it seems like something they would do.”
The city’s Community Safety Commissioner Toddrick Barnette sent KSTP the following statement:
“We’ve heard the same rumors as everyone else – but the bottom line is that Derek Chauvin would remain behind bars serving his state sentence even if his federal charges are pardoned. To be clear, we have no credible intelligence about any pardon or planned disruptions here in Minneapolis. Since 2020, we’ve overhauled our emergency management plans and out of an abundance of caution are planning for any eventuality.”
Sources also said the city of Minneapolis is almost certain that next week, the U.S. Department of Justice will file a petition with the court to end the consent decree over reform at MPD.
If that happens, sources said the city would file a brief challenging the DOJ’s filing, and it could then take up to six weeks to get a ruling from the judge.
The U.S. Law Enforcement Facebook page published a page on Wednesday, May 14, that stated:
"Multiple sources have reported that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Minnesota National Guard, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt have been briefed on preparations for potential civil unrest in the event that President Donald Trump pardons former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin for his federal conviction in the death of George Floyd.
While President Trump has previously dismissed speculation about pardoning Chauvin, stating he was unaware of such discussions, the possibility has gained attention following calls from conservative figures like Ben Shapiro and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.
It's important to note that a presidential pardon would only apply to Chauvin's federal conviction for civil rights violations and would not affect his separate 22.5-year state sentence for murder, which is beyond the president's jurisdiction.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has emphasized that Chauvin "still owes Minnesota 22 ½ years" and will continue to serve his state sentence regardless of any federal pardon.
As the fifth anniversary of George Floyd's death approaches, state and local officials are taking precautions to address any potential unrest stemming from developments in Chauvin's legal status.
We will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as more information becomes available."
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05.14.2025