After a judge sentenced former Minnesota police officer Kim Potter to two years in prison for the shooting of 20-year-old Daunte Wright, the White House said America has progress to make when it comes to criminal justice.
Potter will serve 16 months in prison and the remaining time on supervised release if she doesn’t get any disciplinary violations in prison following her guilty verdict on two manslaughter charges last December. The sentence is significantly lighter than the 25-year sentence and $50,000 fine she could have faced if given the maximum on both counts, much to the disappointment of Wright’s family.
KIM POTTER SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON FOR SHOOTING OF DAUNTE WRIGHT
“We know we have a long way to go when it comes to criminal justice and racial equity in this country,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday. “That’s why we are committed … to engaging in conversations about meaningful policing reform.”
Potter, who is white, was given credit for the 58 days she already served in prison before her sentencing for shooting Wright, who is black. She will also have to pay a $1,000 fine and has the right to appeal her conviction.
Wright’s family had asked the court to give her the maximum sentencing possible, and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, whose office prosecuted the case, filed a memo on Tuesday suggesting she should face 86 months in prison.
The news comes as President Joe Biden is stepping up his backing of law enforcement while saying he’s still committed to police reform efforts.
“Daunte Wright should be here with his family and loved ones, and his death was the tragic result of a law enforcement officer’s error,” Psaki said Friday.
The president launched a slate of new actions earlier this month aimed at combating rising crime and gun violence in major metropolitan areas across the country. White House officials have said the actions will make progress on Biden’s comprehensive strategy to combat gun violence, which he released last June.
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“We also continue to ensure that the law enforcement agencies have the resources they need to properly train and equip officers to protect their communities,” Psaki added. “I’m not going to speak to the specifics of the sentencing outcome.”
