Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Tuesday appeared to advocate for a guilty verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial, telling reporters, “I hope that justice is brought to the Floyd family.”
Schumer, a New York Democrat, commented on the pending verdict after reporters told him of President Joe Biden’s response when asked about the trial charging Chauvin with killing Floyd, a black man who was in Chauvin’s custody.
“I’m praying the verdict is the right verdict,” Biden told reporters in the Oval Office. “The evidence is overwhelming in my view.”
CHAUVIN JUDGE SAYS MAXINE WATERS’S COMMENTS COULD LEAD TO OVERTURNING OF TRIAL ON APPEAL
The nation’s Democratic leaders weighed in on the verdict a day after the judge in the Chauvin trial rebuked House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters for demanding a guilty verdict.
Chauvin, who has since been fired from the Minneapolis Police Department, faces a second-degree murder charge in Floyd’s death, which was captured on smartphones by bystanders. Floyd died after Chauvin appeared to place his knee on his neck for nine minutes while Floyd told the officers on the scene he couldn’t breathe.
Chauvin’s defense argued Floyd may have died of other causes, including a drug overdose, and said Chauvin’s knee was on Floyd’s shoulder part of the time.
Minneapolis and surrounding areas have been bracing for riots pending the outcome of the trial.
Trial Judge Peter Cahill told Chauvin’s lawyer on Monday that Waters’s comment could provide grounds for a successful appeal.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Schumer defended Waters, who also called for protesters to stay in the streets and get more confrontational if there is no guilty verdict.
“Every senator wants peace,” Schumer said.
