Derek Chauvin Pleads Guilty In Federal Case Over Floyd Death

SAINT PAUL, MN — Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pleaded guilty to charges of violating George Floyd's federal civil rights in federal court Wednesday. Chauvin initially pleaded not guilty in September.

Chauvin's guilty plea means he will avoid another trial, but will likely face more prison time. Earlier this year, Chauvin was convicted of murder in Floyd's death and sentenced to 22.5 years in prison.

In May, following the state trial, a federal grand jury indicted former officers Chauvin, Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao.

The three-count indictment in the death of Floyd claims that the four men — acting in their capacity as police officers — "willfully deprived Mr. Floyd of his constitutional rights." Their actions resulted in Floyd's death, the indictment states.

Count one

Count one specifically notes that Chauvin held his left knee on Floyd’s neck — and his right knee on Floyd’s back and arm — while Floyd was handcuffed and not resisting. Chauvin kept his knees on Floyd’s body even after he became unresponsive, the count states.

The indictment claims that Chauvin’s actions violated Floyd’s constitutional right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a police officer.

Count two

Count two of the indictment claims Thao and Kueng "willfully failed to intervene to stop Chauvin’s use of unreasonable force."

Count three

Count three of the indictment claims that all four ex-officers watched Floyd lying on the ground "in clear need of medical care and willfully failed to aid him."

All four former offices "willfully deprived Mr. Floyd of his constitutional right not to be deprived of liberty without due process of law, which includes an arrestee’s right to be free from a police officer’s deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs," the indictment states.

ALSO READ: Jury Finds Derek Chauvin Guilty On All Counts In Death Of Floyd

Reporting from the Associated Press was used in this story