Rob Schmitt, host of “Rob Schmitt Tonight” on the conservative network Newsmax, said on Tuesday that former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was a “sacrifice to the mob” after he was found guilty on three counts in the murder of George Floyd.
“They say justice is blind. I don’t think it was blind in this case at all,” Schmitt said. “I think you have political pressure. I think you have pressure from all these activist groups going into all this. And I think at the end of the day people say, ‘You know what? If we acquit this guy, this city is going to burn to the ground.'”
“So you had a jury that said, ‘You know what? We’re gonna have to sacrifice this guy to the mob.’ And that’s exactly what I think happened today,” Schmitt added
Judge Peter Cahill read the verdict on Tuesday afternoon. The jury found Chauvin guilty of second-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter and third-degree murder.
Multiple cities had prepared heightened security for the possibility that unrest would ensue if Chauvin was acquitted. Minneapolis Public Schools canceled all after-school activities and sports this week in anticipation of the verdict.
As soon as the verdict was announced, celebrations broke out across Minneapolis. Multiple lawmakers also reacted to news of the verdict soon after it was announced.
“The jury’s verdict delivers accountability for Derek Chauvin, but not justice for George Floyd. Real justice for him and too many others can only happen when we build a nation that fundamentally respects the human dignity of every person,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) tweeted.
GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) tweeted, “The American justice system works. Today, due process was followed, and justice was served.”
–Updated on April 21 at 8:00 a.m.