The judge in the murder trial of Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd reprimanded Rep. Maxine Waters, a Democrat from California, for "abhorrent" comments that may lead to an appeal of a verdict and even a retrial.
Waters earlier encouraged Floyd supporters to get more "confrontational" if Chauvin was found not guilty of murder.
"I hope we get a verdict that says guilty, guilty, guilty. And if we don't, we can't go away. We've got to stay on the street. We get more active. We've got to get more confrontational. We've got to make sure that they know that we mean business," Waters said during a rally.
Judge Peter Cahill spoke about her comments moments after the jury in the case departed the courtroom to begin deliberations at 14:14 hours Pacific time Monday. It has been sequestered until it reaches a verdict.
Earlier Chauvin's lawyer, Eric Nelson, pushed for a mistrial because of Waters' comments. Nelson said the U.S. representative's call for acts of violence may warrant a mistrial.
"Well, I'll give you that congresswoman Waters may have given you something on appeal that may result in this whole trial being overturned," Cahill said.
Cahill said Water's statements were "disrespectful to the rule of law." Cahill said officials were free to express opinions about the case but they should do so "respectfully and in a manner that is consistent with their oath to the Constitution."
The jury has been told "not to watch the news. I trust that they are following those instructions," Cahill said.
Cahill described Waters' comments as "abhorrent" but stopped short of deciding that it was prejudicial to the jury. Cahill eventually decided to deny the motion for a mistrial based on its coverage.
In his closing arguments earlier Monday Nelson said Chauvin's actions as a police officer were "reasonable if one takes into account the full scope of George Floyd's arrest (and) not just the notorious nine minutes and 29 seconds he held his knee on Floyd's neck."
According to Nelson Chauvin used his training and instincts as a police officer to respond to the situation in a way that was reasonable, arguing that his use of force on Floyd was justified.
Nelson argued Chauvin's case needed to be examined from the point of view of an officer who is human and therefore "capable of making mistakes in highly stressful situations."
In this case, the totality of the circumstances that were known to a reasonable police officer in the precise moment the force was used demonstrates that this was an authorized use of force, as unattractive as it may be."
Justice for George Floyd, Adam Toledo, Daunte Wright and too many before them must include a national transformation that brings accountability for all officers who murder, including firings, criminal and civil penalties. — Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) April 19, 2021
The prosecution gave its closing argument earlier Monday and said Chauvin "had to know he killed Floyd...and that it was not an accident."
