Minnesota Governor Says He's Working to 'Prepare' for Possibility Trump Pardons Derek Chauvin

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is addressing rumors that Derek Chauvin, the former police officer convicted of killing George Floyd, will receive a presidential pardon for his separate federal conviction of violating Floyd’s civil rights.

Speculation has been growing recently about President Donald Trump possibly pardoning Chauvin, though the president denied those rumors in March, telling reporters, “No, I haven’t even heard about it,” the Minnesota Star Tribune reported.

Walz told reporters this week that, while he does not believe a pardon is imminent, it is possible “with this presidency.”

“So, no indication whether they’re going to do it or not, but I think it behooves us to be prepared for it. With this presidency, it seems like that might be something they would do,” he said, per the Tribune and KTTC.

Walz, who was the Democratic nominee for vice president in the 2024 presidential election, noted that if Chauvin’s federal conviction is pardoned, he will still have to serve the remainder of his 22-and-a-half-year state prison sentence.

Minneapolis Community Safety Commissioner Toddrick Barnette echoed Walz’s sentiment about Chauvin remaining behind bars even if he does get pardoned and addressed possible civil unrest, the Tribune reported.

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“To be clear, we have no credible intelligence about any pardon or planned disruptions here in Minneapolis. Since 2020, we’ve overhauled our emergency management plans and out of an abundance of caution are planning for any eventuality,” he said, per the outlet.

PEOPLE has contacted the U.S. Department of Justice and The White House for comment but did not immediately hear back.

Chauvin, an ex-Minneapolis police officer, was convicted in 2021 of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter for killing 46-year-old Floyd on May 25, 2020.

Floyd was detained by Minneapolis police for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill at a convenience store. He was then was seen in viral bystander video on the ground with his hands cuffed behind him as Chauvin pinned his knee to Floyd’s neck for about nine minutes.

“I can’t breathe,” and “They’re going to kill me,” were among the unarmed man’s last words before he lost consciousness and died at a local hospital.

In 2021, Chauvin also pleaded guilty to a federal charge of violating Floyd’s civil rights and was sentenced to 21 years behind bars. His sentences are running concurrently.

Chauvin, now 49, is currently behind bars at a federal prison in Big Spring, Texas. He was previously serving out his sentence at a federal prison in Tucson, Ariz., but was transferred in August 2024 — nine months after he survived a stabbing at the hand of another inmate.

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Three other former police officers who responded to the call with Chauvin were also found guilty of violating Floyd’s civil rights.