The White House defended President Joe Biden’s comments on the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer charged with murder in the death of George Floyd last year, saying he was not trying to influence the case after he said he was praying for the “right verdict.”
The country is on a knife edge as a jury in Minneapolis considers its verdict in a case that triggered violent protests last year. And politicians have been warned to respect the independence of the courts.
A day earlier, Judge Peter Cahill, who is overseeing the case, warned that comments by Rep. Maxine Waters could lead to a conviction being overturned on appeal.
On Tuesday morning, Biden told reporters in the Oval Office: “I’m praying the verdict is the right verdict. Which is … I think it’s overwhelming, in my view.”
BIDEN CALLED GEORGE FLOYD FAMILY TO OFFER PRAYERS AHEAD OF VERDICT
During her daily briefing, White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked whether his remarks were appropriate at such a sensitive time.
“He certainly is not looking to influence, but he has been touched by the impact on the family, hence he called the family yesterday,” she said, before repeatedly declining to explain whether Biden intended to say the evidence against Chauvin was overwhelming enough to convict him on any one, or all, of the three charges he faces.
She pointed out that the jury was now sequestered in order to reach its verdict and that the president was trying to express empathy for the Floyd family. Psaki used the word sequestered seven times during the delayed briefing.
“I don’t think he would see it as weighing in on the verdict. He was conveying what many people are feeling across the country, which is compassion for the family,” she added.
The jury retired to consider its decision on Monday, prompting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to declare a state of emergency and announce that he was preparing to bring in police officers from neighboring states to respond to any violence.
The case is highly charged and has attracted comments from politicians.
Most notably, Waters said on Saturday that she was looking for a guilty verdict.
“And we’re looking to see if all of the talk that took place and has been taking place after they saw what happened to George Floyd,” she told protesters, “if nothing does not happen, then we know that we’ve got to not only stay in the street, but we’ve got to fight for justice.”
That prompted an unsuccessful attempt by Chauvin’s defense to have a mistrial declared, followed by a very public rebuke from an irritated judge.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“I wish elected officials would stop talking about this case, especially in a manner that is disrespectful to the rule of law and to the judicial branch and our function,” he said. “I think if they want to give their opinions, they should do so in a respectful [way] and in a manner that is consistent with their oath to the Constitution to respect a coequal branch of government.
“Their failure to do so, I think, is abhorrent.”
