Biden and Harris call Floyd family after Chauvin verdict

President Biden and Vice President Harris on Tuesday phoned the family of George Floyd after a jury found ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of Floyd’s murder.

“We’re all so relieved, not just one verdict but all three. Guilty on all three counts. It’s really important,” Biden told the family. “I’m anxious to see you guys. We’re going to get a lot more done. We’re going to do a lot. We’re going to stay at it until we get it done.”

Biden told the family he had been watching the verdict come in alongside senior adviser Cedric Richmond and Harris. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Floyd family and posted the video, expressed optimism that the outcome of the trial could spur action on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Biden said he would fly the family out to Washington, D.C., on Air Force One for the occasion.

Harris praised the Floyd family as “real leaders” at a pivotal moment in history. 

“In George’s name and memory we are going to make sure his legacy is intact and that history will look back at this moment,” Harris said. “But we really do believe that with your leadership and the president that we have in the White House that we’re going to make something good come out of this tragedy.”

Both Biden and Harris are expected to address the nation on the outcome of the trial on Tuesday night, but their remarks to the Floyd family were their first comments to be made public in the aftermath of the verdict.

The jury convicted Chauvin on three counts, including second- and third-degree murder. Graphic bystander footage of the fatal arrest last May showed Floyd, 46, pleading with Chauvin that he couldn’t breathe as the officer pinned him to the street, his knee on Floyd’s neck.

Floyd’s death set off nationwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality.