Conservative Voices Advocate for Presidential Pardon of Derek Chauvin

Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro has launched a public campaign urging a presidential pardon for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, a move amplified by tech billionaire Elon Musk. The initiative seeks to overturn Chauvin's federal conviction related to the 2020 murder of George Floyd, sparking renewed debate and drawing strong condemnation from George Floyd's family and Minnesota's Attorney General.

Shapiro, in a segment on his video podcast, argued that Chauvin was "unjustly convicted" and that the conviction represents "the defining achievement of the Woke movement in American politics." He asserted that Floyd's death was not primarily caused by Chauvin's actions but by pre-existing health conditions, and that the jury faced "massive overt pressure" for a guilty verdict. Elon Musk later reposted Shapiro's segment on X, adding, "Something to think about."

However, legal experts and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison have clarified that a presidential pardon would only apply to Chauvin's federal sentence, not his state conviction for unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter, for which he received a 22.5-year sentence. Chauvin is currently serving concurrent state and federal sentences, with his federal release projected for November 2037 and state release for December 2035.

Beyond recent high-profile endorsements, support for Chauvin has also manifested in various online communities. Social media platforms, including Facebook and Reddit, hosted groups and discussions where individuals expressed belief in his innocence, shared conspiracy theories, and depicted him as a "hero" or a "patsy" in a politically charged environment. Some online forums, such as "helpderekchauvin.wixsite.com," openly declared support, stating, "Derek is innocent, George had COVID-19, Coronary artery disease, and was taking drugs."

George Floyd's brother, Terrence Floyd, expressed profound hurt over the pardon efforts, telling CNN, "We were supposed to see progress... And they’re backpedaling." Attorney General Ellison characterized the campaign as "another example of blatant disrespect for the law," emphasizing that the state conviction remains "solid" regardless of any federal pardon.