Federal Civil Rights Charges Filled Against Former Cops In The Death Of George Floyd
Reports tell us that 4 ex Minneapolis police officers were indicted this morning by a federal grand jury on charges that they violated George Floyd’s constitutional rights. The indictment unsealed Friday accuses J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and Chauvin of depriving Floyd of his rights under the law during the arrest on May 25, 2020, that left Floyd dead and touched off a wave of global protests.
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA - JUNE 18: George Floyd's image is projected on the Robert E. Lee Monument as people gather around on June 18, 2020 in Richmond, Virginia. Richmond Circuit Court Judge Bradley Cavedo ruled on Thursday to indefinitely extended an injunction preventing the Virginia governor from removing a historic statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from Richmond's famed Monument Avenue (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
Angela Harrelson (R), aunt of George Floyd, and Paris Stevens (L), cousin of George Floyd, pose for a photo during a celebration of his birthday at a memorial site known as "George Floyd Square" on October 14, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Floyd, who was killed at the site by Minneapolis Police on May 25, would have turned 47 years old today.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 20: People take to the streets following the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial on April 20, 2021 in New York City. The former Minneapolis police officer was found guilty today on all three charges he faced in the death of George Floyd last May. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 20: Diners cheer on protestors as they march down the streets following the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial on April 20, 2021 in New York City. The former Minneapolis police officer was found guilty today on all three charges he faced in the death of George Floyd last May. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 20: Porchse Queen Miller stands in front of a mural of George Floyd before people march through the streets after the verdict was announced for Derek Chauvin on April 20, 2021 in Atlanta, United States. Former police officer Derek Chauvin was on trial on second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges in the death of George Floyd May 25, 2020. After video was released of then-officer Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for nine minutes and twenty-nine seconds, protests broke out across the U.S. and around the world. The jury found Chauvin guilty on all three charges. (Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 20: People dance and celebrate at Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House on April 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. Former police officer Derek Chauvin was on trial on second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges in the death of George Floyd May 25, 2020. After video was released of then-officer Chauvin kneeling on Floyds neck for nine minutes and twenty-nine seconds, protests broke out across the U.S. and around the world. The jury found Chauvin guilty on all three charges. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 20: People gather at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue following the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial on April 20, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The former Minneapolis police officer was found guilty today on all three charges he faced in the death of George Floyd last May. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 20: People take to the streets following the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial on April 20, 2021 in New York City. The former Minneapolis police officer was found guilty today on all three charges he faced in the death of George Floyd last May. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 20: People take to the streets following the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial on April 20, 2021 in New York City. The former Minneapolis police officer was found guilty today on all three charges he faced in the death of George Floyd last May. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 20: People take to the streets following the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial on April 20, 2021 in New York City. The former Minneapolis police officer was found guilty today on all three charges he faced in the death of George Floyd last May. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 20: People march after the verdict of the Derek Chauvin trial in Brooklyn on April 20, 2021 in New York City. In a trial followed around the world, Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, was found guilty and has been convicted of murder for killing George Floyd by kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 20: People gather at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue following the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial on April 20, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The former Minneapolis police officer was found guilty on all three charges he faced in the death of George Floyd last May. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 20: People gather at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue following the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial on April 20, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The former Minneapolis police officer was found guilty on all three charges he faced in the death of George Floyd last May. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 20: People pay their respects at the mural of George Floyd at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue following the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial on April 20, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The former Minneapolis police officer was found guilty on all three charges he faced in the death of George Floyd last May. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 20: People march after the verdict of the Derek Chauvin trial in Brooklyn on April 20, 2021 in New York City. In a trial followed around the world, Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, was found guilty and has been convicted of murder for killing George Floyd by kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 13: A mural painted by artist Kenny Altidor depicting George Floyd is unveiled on a sidewall of CTown Supermarket on July 13, 2020 in the Brooklyn borough New York City. George Floyd was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis and his death has sparked a national reckoning about race and policing in the United States. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 19: Family, friends and others react during a news conference following the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial on April 19, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The former Minneapolis police officer was found guilty today on all three charges he faced in the death of George Floyd last May. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 20: People celebrate the guilty verdict in the Dereck Chauvin trail at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue on April 20, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Former Minneapolis police officer Chauvin was found guilty today on all three charges he faced in the death of George Floyd. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 20: People gather at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue to celebrate the guilty verdict in the Dereck Chauvin trail on April 20, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Former Minneapolis police officer Chauvin was found guilty today on all three charges he faced in the death of George Floyd. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 05: Holding a picture of Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old woman, was fatally shot by Louisville Metro Police Department, Hundreds of protesters march in downtown Brooklyn over the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis Police officer on June 05, 2020 in New York City. The white police officer, Derek Chauvin, has been charged with second-degree murder and the three other officers who participated in the arrest have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder. Floyd's death, the most recent in a series of deaths of African Americans at the hands of police, has set off days and nights of protests across the country. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 04: Rapper and actor T.I. smiles as he listens to a eulogy for George Floyd by Rev. Al Sharpton during a memorial service at North Central University on June 4, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A number of politicians and celebrities attended the service in Minneapolis as more are scheduled to be held in North Carolina and Texas.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 07: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white.) A protester holds a shirt commemorating George Floyd during the YG x BLMLA x BLDPWR protest and march on June 07, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 09: Singer Ne-Yo performs a song during the funeral for George Floyd at The Fountain of Praise church on June 9, 2020 in Houston, Texas. Floyd died after being restrained by Minneapolis Police officers on May 25, sparking global protests.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JUNE 04: The remains of George Floyd arrive at North Central University for a memorial service on June 4, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Floyd died while in police custody on May 25, after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for nine minutes while detaining him. His death has sparked nationwide protests and rioting.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JUNE 04: The remains of George Floyd arrive at North Central University for a memorial service on June 4, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Floyd died while in police custody on May 25, after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for nine minutes while detaining him. His death has sparked nationwide protests and rioting.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JUNE 04: People gather outside of the memorial service for George Floyd at North Central University on June 4, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Floyd died while in police custody on May 25, after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for nine minutes while detaining him. His death has sparked nationwide protests and rioting.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JUNE 04: People gather outside of the memorial service for George Floyd at North Central University on June 4, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Floyd died while in police custody on May 25, after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for nine minutes while detaining him. His death has sparked nationwide protests and rioting.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JUNE 04: People gather outside of the memorial service for George Floyd at North Central University on June 4, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Floyd died while in police custody on May 25, after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for nine minutes while detaining him. His death has sparked nationwide protests and rioting.