Could President-Elect Donald Trump Pardon Derek Chauvin?

MINNEAPOLIS — Donald Trump's election to a second term in the White House has welcomed news to a federal prison inmate currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

"Immense gratitude to everyone who voted for President Trump on my behalf," former drug kingpin Ross Ulbricht posted on his social media page. "I trust him to honor his pledge and give me a second chance."

Ulbricht was convicted in 2013 for creating and operating "Silk Road," a hidden online marketplace that enabled users to anonymously buy and sell illegal drugs and other illicit goods and services using Bitcoin.

Trump — who has recently become more friendly with Bitcoin fans and the cryptocurrency industry — has previously pledged to pardon Ulbricht.

Could Trump pardon Derek Chauvin, the ex-Minneapolis officer convicted in George Floyd’s death?

Related: Derek Chauvin Was Stabbed 22 Times In Prison: Court Documents

While Trump hasn’t publicly promised a pardon for Derek Chauvin, many of his supporters argue that Chauvin's sentence was excessive or politically motivated.

Legally, Trump could indeed pardon Chauvin for his federal conviction related to violating Floyd’s civil rights, as the U.S. Constitution grants presidents authority over federal pardons.

However, Chauvin’s state conviction for second-degree murder in Minnesota lies outside Trump’s reach, as it requires state-level action.

A federal pardon may still impact Chauvin's time served. Currently, his 22.5-year state sentence and 21-year federal sentence run concurrently. But Minnesota’s early-release policies could potentially reduce his time to 15 years, assuming good behavior.