Governor Walz rejects pardon for George Floyd's killer

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz rejected a campaign by pro-MAGA supporters to pardon Derek Chauvin. Chauvin is a former police officer who was found guilty of murdering George Floyd. The effort to pardon him is being led by conservative influencer Ben Shapiro. Shapiro recently suggested that former President Trump should pardon Chauvin. He argued that Chauvin's case was mishandled and claimed it triggered violence and unrest linked to Black Lives Matter protests, which he said cost the country billions in damages. Governor Walz responded to this push, saying that a pardon would undermine public trust in the justice system. He emphasized that Chauvin was convicted for murdering Floyd on camera and is currently serving sentences of 21 years in federal prison and 22 and a half years in state prison. Walz stated that if Chauvin was pardoned, he would still return to state prison in Minnesota and would not be released. The governor expressed strong feelings about the issue, describing the campaign to pardon Chauvin as rooted in racism. "It's racist. OK? That's what I believe," he said.