Minnesota AG Responds to Ben Shapiro's Call to Pardon Derek Chauvin

Minnesota AG's Stance on Chauvin Pardon

• 🏛️ Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison stated that any federal pardon for Derek Chauvin would be irrelevant to the state conviction.
• ⚖️ Ellison emphasized that Chauvin still owes Minnesota 22 and a half years in prison for state charges, in addition to his federal sentence.
• 🗣️ Ellison believes the pardon efforts are a tactic to agitate and outrage people, serving as "red meat" for a specific political base.

Ben Shapiro's Petition and Arguments

• ✍️ Ben Shapiro launched an online petition urging President Trump to grant a federal pardon for Derek Chauvin.
• 📈 Shapiro called Chauvin's conviction an "unjust conviction" and the inciting event for BLM riots, claiming Chauvin did not murder George Floyd.
• 🚫 Shapiro has a history of denying the existence of systemic racism.

Critiques of the Pardon Effort

• 🧐 The discussion highlights the hypocrisy of those advocating for Chauvin's pardon, questioning why they don't also advocate for other officers convicted in similar cases.
• 🧐 It's argued that the pardon effort ignores the approximate cause of George Floyd's death, which was witnessed by many.
• 📢 The push for a pardon is seen as an attempt to retroactively justify actions and send a message of political power, rather than a genuine belief in Chauvin's innocence.

Broader Implications and Motivations

• 🚨 The pardon efforts are viewed as a demonstration of basic bigotry and racism and a move into a more polarized political zone.
• 📣 Motivations may include showing unwavering support for police officers or simply provoking a reaction, which Ellison deems not sensible or good for America.
• 🚨 Governor Tim Walz expressed the need to be prepared for such actions given the current political climate.