Minnesota AG admits to feeling 'a little bad' for Derek Chauvin: 'He’s a human being'
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison appeared on 60 Minutes Sunday where he shared feelings about the trial of Derek Chauvin that may come as a surprise to some. Last week, Chauvin was found guilty on all counts for the murder of George Floyd. As Chauvin awaits sentencing, Ellison revealed that he feels for the former Minneapolis police officer on a human level.
“I spent 16 years as a criminal defense lawyer,” Ellison said, “so I will admit I felt a little bad for the defendant. I think he deserved to be convicted, but he's a human being.”
When that sentiment was met with surprise, Ellison further elaborated, “I'm not in any way wavering from my responsibility, but I hope we never forget that people who are defendants in our criminal justice system, that they're human beings. They're people. I mean, George Floyd was a human being, and so I’m not going to ever forget that everybody in this is a person.”
Ellison also admitted that he wasn’t confident they would get a guilty verdict, and shared what he felt when the verdicts were read.
“Gratitude. Humility. Followed by a certain sense of, I'll say, satisfaction,” Ellison said. “It's what we were aiming for the whole time.”
Video Transcript
KEITH ELLISON: I spent 16 years as a criminal defense lawyer. So I will admit I felt a little bad for the defendant. I think he deserved to be convicted. But he's a human being.
KYLIE MAR: Following the guilty verdicts in former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin's trial for the murder of George Floyd, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison appeared on "60 Minutes" Sunday where he expressed compassion for Chauvin on a human level.
KEITH ELLISON: I'm not in any way wavering from my responsibility. But I hope we never forget that people who are defendants in our criminal justice system that they're human beings, they're people.
KYLIE MAR: Ellison also revealed how he felt the moment the verdicts were read.
KEITH ELLISON: Gratitude, humility, followed by a certain sense of, I would say, satisfaction. It's what we were aiming for the whole time.
