Texas Senator Ted Cruz claims comments President Biden made to reporters about the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial is grounds for dismissal.
On Tuesday, President Biden told reporters that he’s “praying” for the “right verdict in the Chauvin trial. “Which is — I think it is overwhelming in my view.”
Biden’s comments come as the jury is sequestered and deliberating on whether to convict Chauvin who knelt on Floyd’s neck for more than 9 minutes last year.
Chauvin has been charged with second degree murder, third degree murder and second degree manslaughter.
Cruz seized on Biden’s comments, claiming that they are grounds for a mistrial.
“Joe Biden decides that Maxine Waters shouldn’t be the only politician foolishly providing grounds for a mistrial or a possible basis on appeal to challenge any guilty conviction,” Cruz tweeted.
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) told demonstrators in Brooklyn Center, Minn., where Daunte Wright was killed by a police officer last week, “to stay on the street” and “to get more confrontational.” Her remarks came ahead of closing arguments on Monday in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who is charged with murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd.
Republicans seized on her remarks claiming she was inciting violence. House Minority Leads Kevin McCarthy plans to introduce a resolution to censure her.
After sending the jury to deliberation on Monday the judge slammed lawmakers taking about he case in manner that is “disrespectful to the rule of law.”
“I wish elected officials would stop talking about this case, especially in a manner that is disrespectful to the rule of law and to the judicial branch and our function,” Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill said Monday, according to the Hill. “If they want to give their opinions, they should do so … in a manner that is consistent with their oath to the Constitution.”
