The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that the Justice Department had a back-up plan to arrest former police officer Derek Chauvin “immediately” if the jury found him not guilty of murder charges in the death of George Floyd.

The plan, according to the newspaper, was to arrest Chauvin right at the courthouse and charge him with federal police brutality charges by criminal complaint, which would not require a grand jury.

The Daily Mail describes the feds scheme as a “secret backup plan” to bring the officer to justice.

“Leading up to Derek Chauvin’s murder trial, Justice Department officials had spent months gathering evidence to indict the ex-Minneapolis police officer on federal police brutality charges, but they feared the publicity frenzy could disrupt the state’s case,” the Tribune reveals.

“So they came up with a contingency plan: If Chauvin were found not guilty on all counts or the case ended in a mistrial, they would arrest him at the courthouse, according to sources familiar with the planning discussions.”

A jury earlier this month found Chauvin guilty on all three charges for the murder of George Floyd.

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Feds Planned To Arrest Derek Chauvin Even If Found Not Guilty

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune notes that authorities will pursue the plan going forward regardless.

They will ask a grand jury to indict Chauvin and the other three ex-officers involved in George Floyd’s killing on civil rights charges.

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“If the grand jury voted to indict, the former officers would face the new civil rights charges on top of the state’s cases, meaning all four could be headed toward yet another criminal trial in federal court,” the Star Tribune writes.

The Daily Mail notes that civil rights charges are “akin to hate crimes.”

Chauvin’s sentencing, according to court records, is set to take place on June 25th.

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George Floyd Saga Just Beginning

We know which way President Biden was rooting in the outcome of the Chauvin trial.

“I’m praying that verdict is the right verdict, which I think it’s overwhelming, in my view,” Biden told reporters while the jury was sequestered but still deliberating.

The President’s DOJ followed up when Attorney General Merrick Garland announced they would be conducting a sweeping investigation into the policing practices of the Minneapolis police.

It’s clear they are hell-bent on pursuing every possible avenue in the arrest and charging of Derek Chauvin and the other officers.

That said, as the report indicates the DOJ will charge them on civil rights violations anyway, what would the purpose of arresting him in the courtroom if he were found not guilty have served?

One can only speculate.

 

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This piece originally appeared in ThePoliticalInsider.com and is used by permission.

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