Minneapolis Prepares for Possible Derek Chauvin Pardon

State and local leaders are reportedly preparing for potential unrest amid the possibility that President Donald Trump may pardon Derek Chauvin.

According to KSTP, Gov. Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, the Minnesota National Guard, and Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt have all been briefed about possible fallout if a federal pardon is issued.

Chauvin was convicted in both state and federal court in 2021. While Trump has no authority over Chauvin’s second-degree murder conviction under Minnesota law, he can issue a pardon for the federal charges related to Floyd’s civil rights.

Even a partial pardon could impact Chauvin’s time behind bars. His 22.5-year state sentence and 21-year federal sentence are being served concurrently, and Minnesota’s early-release policies could reduce his total time served to about 15 years with good behavior.

Responding to questions from reporters this week, Gov. Tim Walz said the White House has given him no indication that a federal pardon for Chauvin is imminent. Nonetheless, he’s bracing for the possibility, reminding people that even if Chauvin’s sentence is commuted on the federal level, he would be transferred to Minnesota to serve out the remainder of his lengthy state prison term.

“If Donald Trump exercises his constitutional right to do so, whether I agree — and I strongly disagree with him — if he issues that pardon we will simply transfer Derek Chauvin to serve out his 22-and-a-half years in prison in Minnesota," Walz said. “So, no indication whether they’re going to do it or not, but I think it behooves us to be prepared for it. With this presidency, it seems like that might be something they would do.”

Government leaders in Minneapolis acknowledged that rumors of a potential pardon are widespread. With the fifth anniversary of Floyd’s death approaching later this month, they are being cautious in preparing for any civil unrest that could erupt.

“We’ve heard the same rumors as everyone else – but the bottom line is that Derek Chauvin would remain behind bars serving his state sentence even if his federal charges are pardoned,“ Minneapolis Community Safety Commissioner Toddrick Barnette said in a statement. ”To be clear, we have no credible intelligence about any pardon or planned disruptions here in Minneapolis. Since 2020, we’ve overhauled our emergency management plans and out of an abundance of caution are planning for any eventuality.”

An internal email from a deputy city operations officer for Minneapolis informed city employees about how officials will respond if Chauvin is pardoned, noting that city leaders would condemn the action, even though a federal pardon wouldn’t affect Chauvin’s state sentence.

Chauvin’s expected released from federal prison is in November 2037. His expected release from state custody is set for December 2035, after which he would be placed on supervised release until 2043.

Since Trump’s return to office, some conservative figures have publicly urged him to pardon Chauvin.

In March, commentator Ben Shapiro published an open letter calling Chauvin "unjustly convicted" and a political scapegoat.

"Make no mistake — the Derek Chauvin conviction represents the defining achievement of the Woke movement in American politics," Shapiro wrote. "The country cannot turn the page on that dark, divisive, and racist era without righting this terrible wrong."

Elon Musk, a Trump ally and advisor, reposted a video of Shapiro discussing the issue on X, commenting, "something to think about."

Publicly, Trump has given no credence to the rumors. “No, I haven’t even heard about it,” Trump told reporters when directly asked whether he would contemplate a pardon in March.

Two other former officers who pleaded guilty in federal court in connection with the death of Floyd have already been released. J. Alexander Kueng was released in January. Thomas Lane was released last year. Former officer Tou Thao, who kept back bystanders as Floyd was restrained, remains imprisoned at a federal medical center in Lexington, Ky. He is scheduled to be released in November.

Both Kueng and Lane remain on probation due to their criminal convictions of aiding-and-abetting manslaughter in Hennepin County District Court.

Lane’s probation is set to expire in August. Kueng‘s probation expires in 2026.

In 2023, Chauvin was stabbed 22 times by a fellow inmate in the law library at the federal prison in Tucson, Arizona, where he is serving his sentence.