Minnesota AG Keith Ellison to take lead in George Floyd case: governor

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) will take the lead on the prosecution of Derek Chauvin, the former officer charged in the death of George Floyd, as well as any other charges brought forward as part of the investigation into Floyd’s death.

Gov. Tim Walz (D) announced Sunday that Ellison would lead the state’s prosecution of anyone found to be possibly liable for Floyd’s death, adding that the former U.S. House member had the experience needed to head up the case, NBC News reported.

“This decision is one that I feel takes us in that direction and the step to start getting the justice for George Floyd,” Walz said, according to NBC.

Walz’s announcement comes following a letter from 10 members of the Minnesota state legislature urging Ellison to take over the prosecution, arguing that the county prosecutor had lost the faith of members of the Minneapolis community.

“Unfortunately, our constituents, especially constituents of color, have lost faith in the ability of Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman to fairly and impartially investigate and prosecute these cases,” they wrote, according to NBC.

“It with a large degree of humility and a great seriousness, I accept for my office the responsibility for leadership on this critical case involving the killing of George Floyd,” Ellison said Sunday.

“We are going to bring to bear all the resources necessary to achieve justice in this case,” he added.

It with a large degree of humility and a great seriousness, I accept for my office the responsibility for leadership on this critical case involving the killing of George Floyd.

We are going to bring to bear all the resources necessary to achieve justice in this case. pic.twitter.com/XXafzFT0Kd

— Attorney General Keith Ellison (@AGEllison) May 31, 2020

Floyd’s death, which video shows occurred  after he begged for his life while an officer identified as Chauvin placed his knee on Floyd’s neck for several minutes, sparked a wave of protests across the nation over the weekend.

On Friday, Freeman announced that Chauvin would be charged with third-degree murder after the county initially waited several days to arrest or charge the former officer.