Former Attorney General William Barr rejected a court settlement that a former Minneapolis police officer agreed a few days after George Floyd’s death in May 2020, according to a report.
Under the proposed deal, which required federal approval, Derek Chauvin – the policeman seen kneeling on Floyd’s neck in a video that went viral – agreed to plead guilty to third-degree murder, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing information from the three policemen.
An official said Barr was concerned that the deal, which required a 10-year prison sentence, could have been viewed by the public as very mild. The investigation into Floyd’s death was still ongoing at the time.
Barr also wanted to allow Hennepin County prosecutors to continue the case on their own terms, the Times reported.
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The Justice Department did not immediately respond to an e-mail from Fox News requesting comments on the Times story. Eric Nelson, Chauvin’s lawyer, said he would not comment on the case.
Derek Chauvin, on the left, faces murder charges in connection with the death of George Floyd.
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Floyd’s death in police custody on May 25, 2020, led to violent protests in Minneapolis and major US cities. Protesters watched the video that emerged from Floyd’s prison and said it was another example of police brutality.
Former Attorney General William Barr speaks during a news conference on Monday, December 21, 2020 at the Washington Department of Justice. (Associated Press)
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Chauvin is due to stand alone on 8 March, while three other former police officers facing minor charges in the case will be tried together in the summer. Chauvin, who is White, pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck while he was handcuffed facedown on the street – although whether that was the cause of Floyd’s death is a matter of debate.
Last August, a coroner said an autopsy revealed that Floyd had a “fatal level” of fentanyl in his system when he died, but Dr. Andrew Baker avoided claiming that taking the drug had killed Floyd.
Floyd was arrested while police investigated whether he had used a counterfeit bill at a nearby store. In a video widely seen on social media, Floyd could be heard begging the cops for air, saying he couldn’t breathe.
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Minneapolis is already taking steps to prepare for the Chauvin trial, the Times reported. The National Guard will be sent and some office workers in the city have been instructed not to work from home.