Derek Chauvin Gets 20 Years For Federal Civil Rights Charges In George Floyd’s Death

Topline

Derek Chauvin was sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison Thursday for violating George Floyd’s federal civil rights when he killed Floyd by kneeling on him for close to 10 minutes during an arrest in 2020 — a sentence he will serve simultaneously with his sentence for murdering Floyd.

Key Facts

As part of a plea deal in which Chauvin, 46, pleaded guilty last December to violating Floyd’s federal civil rights, he was sentenced to 21 years because his actions were “simply wrong,” according to U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson.

As part of his confession, Chauvin admitted that he kept his knee on Floyd’s neck in spite of hearing Floyd say he couldn’t breath before ultimately becoming unresponsive, according to the Washington Post.

Chauvin earlier received a 22.5 year state sentence for murdering Floyd.

His federal charges include violating Floyd’s civil rights, and his state charges include murder and manslaughter, and he will serve them simultaneously, according to The Associated Press.

KEY BACKGROUND

On May 25, 2020, a 9 minute video showed Chauvin planting his knee on the neck of Floyd and ultimately killing him. The video went viral and provoked a wave of protests across the United States. Chauvin and three other officers faced trial last year for their involvement in the murder, and Chauvin was convicted of Floyd’s murder last summer. He signed a plea deal with federal prosecutors in December in which he confessed to violating Floyd’s federal civil rights. During his sentencing, CBS Minnesota reports Chauvin did not formally apologize, but wished Floyd’s children “all the best in life.”

FURTHER READING

Derek Chauvin Pleads Guilty To Violating George Floyd’s Civil Rights In Federal Case (Forbes)

Derek Chauvin Sentenced To 22.5 Years In Prison For Murdering George Floyd (Forbes)

Guilty Verdict In Derek Chauvin Trial Blows Up Twitter (Forbes)