FULL INTERVIEW: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison discusses Derek Chauvin trial, verdict

KARE 11's Lou Raguse sits down with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to discuss the Derek Chauvin trial and the verdict.
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[@emm8357]

I just applied to law school because I’ve been so inspired by this man and his team. I have a feeling that he’s probably created a new generation of lawyers!

[@emm8357]

@Brett Kozlak 🤣 if you were trying to be rude, you failed. I’ve read your other comments on this page and it’s quite clear you have zero empathy for other human beings. You seem to have self-esteem issues or something, that you’re trying to make up for by desperately trying to appear superior. I feel pity for you and your narrow mind. It must be sad to live with such hate. So forgive me if I don’t take anything you say seriously.

[@bradanderson7779]

@@emm8357 Congratulations, my daughter is just finishing her first year of law school, so proud of her. Go for it, and I bet your parents are very proud of you as well. Ignore that Troll, it seems he hates himself.

[@emm8357]

@@bradanderson7779 thank you! I was feeling a bit like I was lacking in purpose until I got thoroughly hooked watching this trial. I now spend my spare time watching other trials and law lectures. I don’t start studying until September so I’m taking a short course in the meantime, I’m anxious to get started! Good luck to your daughter!

[@shyfillie3368]

I'm from 🇨🇦. I watched this trial from day 1. These men were incredible. My dad's a cop of 30yrs. This cascade him sick as it did every1 around the world. He said this case made him ashamed 2 b in law enforcement. Wasn't what he signed up 4.

[@athenoullathodure1355]

Hey🙂 I lost u, wanted to reply,

[@jamesrmore]

Your dad would have insisted they pay proper attention to GF. Police, when done properly serve a vital role in keeping the peace.

[@josephinenilsson1541]

I am so deeply and profoundly impressed by this man. He has all the nuances of a deeply insightful and balanced mind. Just wow.

[@1redarmy1]

Yep the mastermind. he made all the correct recruitments and decisions. LEGEND

[@yishaikritzler2619]

Did u guys know that his wife said he ran her over with his car?

[@jiprey597]

I live in England and we are Solicitors and this man and the whole team have done an incredible job. Well done to you and your team. THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING.

[@emm8357]

Hey, fellow Brit here! I applied to law school this week because of this man and his team.

[@Domingos1878]

I'm in England too and I have nothing to do with law but this case was facinating on so many levels.Ellison and his team put on a great case.

[@emm8357]

@@Domingos1878 I think we were lucky in the UK - each day of trial started as I finished work, so I literally watched everything from pre-trial motions and voir dire to the reading of the verdict. I was actually looking at my watch and converting the time to Minnesota time for over a month!

[@Sheila612Miller]

@@emm8357 well thank you from us Minnesota people and from me a personal friend of Floyd.

[@sj4645]

Respecting each other brings a good outcome. Every one of the attorneys was so professional. I am so glad that we got to see those professional attorneys.

[@Menga213]

This guy is a scam. How did even become Attorney General didn't he assault his ex girlfriend?

[@shawty51035]

Great job to Keith and the prosecution. Mr. Chauvin was held accountable for his actions.

[@RodinThink28]

There are good people in this world . AG Ellison is a beacon of good and we're thankful to have such folks of conscience, character and good morals.

[@jaxensley9130]

I’ll tell the jokes around here

[@jamesrmore]

Just the right amount of "cooks in the kitchen."

[@jessiearies1912]

Thank you Attorney General, Keith Ellison for the Nobleness of your actions. It was a very invaluable insight to be able to watch this trial of Derek Chauvin worldwide. I gained so much knowledge and it gave us an opportunity to meet and hear Jerry Blackwell and Steve Schleicher speak to the whole world. Brilliant men, Jerry Blackwell and Steve Schleicher were phenomenal! You have my respect!

[@Jennifer-pw9ue]

This man seems decent

[@Sheila612Miller]

He is and he did my friend Floyd the justice he deserved.

[@jamesrmore]

The 9 year olds testimony was important to me. Well done!

[@heatherc2939]

Thank you AG Ellison for a job well done, and Kare 11 for this excellent, important interview.

[@_A_343]

Bless his soul

[@TheStar798]

Wonderful interview - and I applaud his insight and genius in bringing together the Prosecution team that he did, and directing the pace and structure of the trial presentation 👏

[@kbrown6819]

Great interview. Good job both or you.

[@goodone8041]

Why are we celebrating when we do not have a sentence.

[@WeisserStolz1]

John Roberts Jr. He’s gonna toss this conviction

[@northstar1060]

great job mr ellison --amerca needs more AG'S with ethics and stones

[@BobK5]

Attorney General! He can’t see anything wrong with convicting someone of murder when there’s no evidence of it, doesn’t sound like he’s got much understanding of the law, I’d like to know how he got the job.

[@elroythegreat1590]

Apitome of a true extremists.

[@Sheila612Miller]

I live our Mn attorney general we elected well. Class Act Ellison Ty for giving my friend the justice he and so many others deserve. Now go get Daunte Wrights killer.

[@esthermensah5346]

One aspect of matters that concerned me was that, why conduct an investigation into the operation of Minneapolis Police department after Chauvin's trial & not before?

[@emm8357]

Probably so as not to taint the jury pool. For example, the judge would then have to bring it up at voir dire and ask jurors if they’d heard about the investigation and if they had, he’d then ask whether knowing about the investigation would stop the juror from being able to be fair and impartial. No doubt some jurors would say that the investigation made them think that there was something systemic within the MPD, because why else would they be investigated? That juror would then be removed for cause. The judge would probably also have to ask jurors if an investigation would make them believe that any MPD witnesses had no credibility. If a juror believed that MPD officers were just trying to make their department look good and that their testimony would be tainted by the investigation, they’d be stricken for cause. A number of prospective jurors were stricken at voir dire because they were unable to be fair and impartial in light of the civil settlement, even though civil cases are decided using different laws (for example, at criminal trial the burden of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt. Civil cases are decided by a preponderance of the evidence). Two seated jurors were removed after the news if the settlement as they were all questioned again. Most hadn’t heard of it because they’d been avoiding media, but two said they had and it would impact their ability to judge the case on its merits. So yes, announcing an investigation before the major criminal trial would possibly taint the jury pool and the opinion of the jurors about any MPD testimony. While the other three officers are awaiting trial, starting the investigation now is seen as a reaction to the first verdict, so legally it’d be difficult to say that it will taint the next trial, as Chauvin has been found guilty which precipitated the investigation.

[@esthermensah5346]

@@emm8357 Hi Em M Thanks for this information. It is helpful for me to understand it better. However, in my contention, the Defence's submission that Chauvin was relying on the Minneapolis Police Department's policy to subdue Floyd, made me believe, that policy would be central to the case. Having said this, I do not think it would have swayed the jury into making a different decision, in view of the insensitivity of the acts of Chauvin & his colleagues, towards Floyd. Chauvin it appears to me. deviated from that policy by implementing his own interpretation of 'Chokehold' , which is supposed to be considered by the Police in situations, where a suspect is 'resisting arrest' & posing a 'danger' to the police officers. In the case regarding Floyd, it could not be said that he was a 'threat' because he had already been arrested, with his hands shackled in handcuffs behind his back. The fact that he resisted going into the back seat of the Police car, was in my view, a medical situation, which eluded the police officers because his panic attack, was percieved as signs of aggression warranting escalation of their policy in arresting a suspect, classed as 'resisting arrest', a total flaw in their thinking, leading to excessive manhandling of a suspect with comobility - heart disease. Despite the pleadings from Floyd, that he could not breath, which I took it to be, he was having difficulty breathing (because if he could speak, it was assumed, he could breath), the restraint did not stop, as the intention was to render him 'unconscious', To 'Chokehold' someone taller than you, the police officer, is an impossibility. Chauvin, I learnt, had applied this method of his before in 2017, by kneeling on the neck of a teenager, when he responded to a call in a domestic dispute with his mother for 17 minutes. Luckily, he survived. Without much criticism from his employers, Chauvin was enthused into the repetition of this in the case of Floyd on 25/5/20. A situation of total misjudgment with fatal consequence because Floyd died as a result in this instant. Had Chauvin showed a bit sensible thinking, in the situation by listening to the pleadings from Floyd, as well as the bystanders, he would have drawn some understanding as to his stance. Chauvin was/is his own orchestrator of his conviction. Poor judgement & disregard to Floyd's cries for his release from his knee, which went without a head, was overwhelming in the extreme. The above comment is not in a way trying to take sides but merely to put across my personal perspective of the case, as I heard the arguments of the Prosecution & the Defence, like everyone else making of comments. I am not making judgment as to who was good nor who was not good in the trial, neither am I criticising the decision of the Jury.

[@yishaikritzler2619]

What did his wife say about him?

[@WeisserStolz1]

Gonna be eating those words in due time

[@aarohivijh]

Maybe, but not his fault for the most part.

[@soulovelee_2433]

Why did you never see him on trial?

[@emm8357]

He was there. Go back and watch, he’s at the prosecution table near the back of the room, on the right hand side of the table as you look at it (his left). I watched every single second, including voir dire and pre-trial motions. He was there. Some days the camera doesn’t cut to the prosecution table, but pool reporters said he was there every day.

[@jamesrmore]

He was the general or orchestra conductor. He didn't want the media distracted by focusing on him. Genius on what may be one of histories most important trials.

[@goodone8041]

He wants to lower their expectations and give him 6 yrs. Wow..Come on. Being suffocated is different than a bullet.

[@jamesrmore]

Not sure I understand your point but I would like to. Would a bullet be worse in terms of guilt or sentencing? Slowly being in charge of someone's life drain away seems? Maybe if GF was your brother/father it might make a difference. Chauvin must have become over time desensitized to his humanity.

[@emm8357]

I don’t think he’ll get 6 years. Looking at the sentencing guidelines, I’m expecting between 12.5 and 18 years. Chauvin decided to have the aggravating factors considered by the judge rather than the jury, so Judge Cahill will take into consideration things like the fact that this crime occurred in from of minors and that Chauvin was in a position of power and abdicated his responsibility when it comes to rendering medical aid. Judge Cahill was also privy to Chauvin’s employment record, including the numerous complaints, and I believe he watched the video of Chauvin hitting a minor with a flashlight and kneeling on that same child for 17 minutes. He knows his prior actions which are helpful when it comes to some of the aggravating factors. The maximum sentence is 40 years, but as Chauvin currently has no other convictions, it’s unlikely. If his federal tax case had been tried first, he might have been looking at a longer sentence. I highly doubt he’ll get as little as 6 years.

[@jamesrmore]

@@emm8357Chauvin letting the judge determine the sentence is probably a big mistake on his part. As you note so well Cahill will be un-sympathetic. He certainly needs to be out of the police business. It is a wake up call to all us citizens to treat our neighbors with the same respect and empathy as we would want to be treated. Isn't this the golden rule us Christians pay lip service to.... Chauvin would have shown more respect to a pet dog than he did a fellow human. Sad...

[@ChannelNews1]

I think the defense made a huge mistake and missed an opportunity in this trial. They rested too early. I posted in length what I think on my home page video. Please let me know what you think. Thank you

[@heatherc2939]

The defense SUCKED. 🤣🤣

[@heatherc2939]

Simply put: there was no defense. They couldn't even produce a medical expert to debunk any of the prosecutions medical experts, except for the Maryland guy Fowler, who is being sued, and admitted that Chauvin should have applied life saving measures.

[@remycallie]

@Brett Kozlak That's not remotely a defense, you realize that, right? There were two elements to proving 2nd degree murder: 1) that the prolonged use of force constituted a felonious assault and 2) that George Floyd died "substantially" (the exact word) from that assault -- meaning he would not have died *at that moment* absent the assault (even if he might have died later). Those are elements the defense had to address. They did this by calling a use of force expert to testify that it wasn't an assault and a doctor to testify that he would have died *at that moment* from heart disease and drugs absent the assault. However, it sure looked like an assault to the jury (and half the cops in Minneapolis testified that it was) and, in reality, he probably wouldn't have died at that moment (and seven doctors testified to that). When you add to that three minutes of failure to render aid to an unconscious person (which wasn't an element of the crime but was Chauvin's sworn duty and their own witness testified might have saved his life) and his goose was cooked.

[@emm8357]

Apparently they couldn’t find any other expert witnesses to testify, because the majority of people they approached came to the conclusion that Chauvin killed Floyd after they reviewed the evidence.

[@emm8357]

@Brett Kozlak they couldn’t argue that, it’s not an admissible question. The reason they failed was because it clearly wasn’t an overdose. He didn’t fall into a coma. He could still feel pain. His respiratory rate was 22, in an OD it would be in single figures. His pupils were dilated (as per the EMTs), in an overdose they’d be pin-point small. I’m Narcan trained - that in no way looked like an overdose. To me, his respiratory rate and dilated pupils sealed it. You don’t have either of those in an overdose.

[@marismith865]

Why aren't political and civil leaders urging people to comply with law enforcement peacefully? Where is the message of personal responsibility?$HARPTON on $tand by.

[@AB-tr3pg]

You should research the many numbers of Caucasian who do not comply during an arrest.....they fight, bite, runaway, etc....and they do not end up dead like George Floyd. But yes I agree...our society needs to push and support not resisting arrest.

[@indigodolphin687]

So if you can't breathe, you do it peacefully? You wouldn't "struggle " for air? Just passively die. Typical supremacist thinking. Mr Floyd was polite- thank you. He didn't shout profanities at the officers. He didn't run. So he should have died more peacefully? At one time if a slave wanted to escape from slavery, he was thought to be mentally ill. Drapetomania. Scientific Racism.

[@pamelajohnson6900]

M,smith seems you have a lot to learn. May I suggest you, research your history and look at it with out a non privileged point of view.

[@clowilliams17]

WOW !!!!!!OUTSTANDING !!!!!! LAWYERS !!!!! I COULDN'T MIDS A SECOND !!! GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT 👍 JOB !!! GERRYB. STEVE S. AND ALL THE OTHERS ATTORNEY & OTHERS THAT HELPED IN THIS HORRIBLE CASE THANK YOU THANK YOU FINALLY JUSTICE " AT LAST " !!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS 😊 FROM " WE THE PEOPLE " CLO 💚

[@Zevanno2021]

Chauvin didn't have his hand in his pocket. He had black gloves on and his fingers were curled under . 🙄

[@jamesrmore]

It shows the limits of human perception and how they can be "tricked". Its the basis for most "magic" tricks. On the other hand, glove or pocket I trust my eyes and gut enough to perceive grave/callous indifference of Chauvin.

[@Zevanno2021]

@@jamesrmore well then he shouldn't have wasted his time upgrading to a code 3 if he was enjoying it so much and didn't care . 🤷‍♀️

[@jamesrmore]

@@Zevanno2021 Police have impossible jobs and should be shown huge respect. There is little opportunity in there jobs to enjoy themselves. I can also see how being put in situations where they see the negative aspects of humans would make one callous. Don't think I could do the job. I just hope WE ALL do better in respecting one another. Don't get me started on teachers. Peace!

[@veezienhamoruhwande99]

Whatever... He cruelly killed George

[@Zevanno2021]

@@veezienhamoruhwande99 false . No one proved that. Did you see the new claim that Dr. BAKER ( autopsy guy ),was threatened to include neck restraints / subdued in his report. 🤔🛑🛑🛑

[@shewangisawjemaneh1066]

Ethiopia ኢትዮጵያ

[@debbieblythe3491]

Yes because the juror that just gave the interview was bias. Also he said they didn’t like the fact he didn’t testify when they were given instructions not to take this into consideration. Unfair trial plenty of reasons to appeal

[@Liberty-rn4wy]

Ask him who leaked the $27m settlement, which may have tainted this case and allowed it to be overturned on appeal. Why don't you ask hard questions?

[@AfroHairScience]

27 million dollars can never jade what ANY sane human can see with their eyes.......MURDER!!! 27 million dollars is not all that when it comea to life. Money gets way too much credit.

[@Liberty-rn4wy]

@@AfroHairScience I agree, but the issue is could the jury come to a fair decision when they already knew about the $27 million.

[@veezienhamoruhwande99]

It's not about the $27 million but about excessive force which killed George... c'mon

[@daytch9485]

Quite a bit of b.s. on this one. Prosecution was not strong enough for the murder charges for beyond reasonable doubt, or at least the defense raised enough doubt. You say it yourself in this interview 3:42 "that doesn't mean" you've have already assumed or predisposed

[@pondwalden8291]

They could have gotten the death penalty from that jury pool

[@connie.22]

Minn. Abolished the death penalty in 1911. Google said.

[@alicetimmons2938]

He may still get life...

[@remycallie]

@@connie.22 It wasn't meant literally.

[@connie.22]

@@remycallie yes i know, im sorry, i looked it up and actually was pleased to see. thought it was good info.

[@emm8357]

@@alicetimmons2938 he won’t get life on those charges. The maximum is 40 years, however under the sentencing guidelines he’s far more likely to get around 12.5 to 15 years as he has no prior criminal record.

[@Zevanno2021]

Antifa and BLM decided this case . 😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆

[@guyfawkesuThe1]

Keith Ellison the first Black Muslim Attorney General in the history of the USA.

[@jdxiong]

And? Your point?

[@guyfawkesuThe1]

@@jdxiong Are you not going to congratulate him for being the FIRST BLACK MUSLIM STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL??

[@maryannepereira6549]

Tell the truth or George Boyd is not an angel he has committed a lot of crimes that were not good at all let me ask a question those other times he was attested 9 times was it claustrophobic then

[@bruceching4078]

Oh, good grief. A history of committing crimes does NOT justify execution without a trial. Duh.

[@RamBowMike]

OVER POLICING is an understatement... (Where is the freedom?) All laws have become over regulated, even our amendment of rights!)

[@Zevanno2021]

Start preaching about complying. Send a message. You will save lives .🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑

[@guyfawkesuThe1]

Ellison never showed his face in court and he was the lead prosecutor?? Oh how about that Mecca, Saudi Arabia sign that discriminates against Non-Muslims Ellison? He went over there and must have drove past it!

[@emm8357]

He was in court. Watch it. He’s the man on the prosecution table nearest the back wall on the right hand corner. He was there every day.

[@guyfawkesuThe1]

@@emm8357 B.S. He was there only for the sentencing! Otherwise he was MIA!

[@esthermensah5346]

What charges would have been made against Chauvin, had Floyd not died? Equally, what cases could be levied against Thomas Lane, Alexander Kueng & You Thao, had Floyd not died?

[@guyfawkesuThe1]

@@esthermensah5346 Plenty of stupid cops in MN.

[@noneyabusiness1161]

Radical left

[@jdxiong]

Radical right?

[@noneyabusiness1161]

@@jdxiong negative

[@Zevanno2021]

Unfair trial 🛑🛑🛑

[@debbieblythe3491]

Nelson is an excellent lawyer. Prosecutor Blackwell was arrogant ignorant argumentative even with the Judge and loved when he was pulled over the coals for it. As for Sch..... he was a waste of space not a good Prosecutor