Elon Musk backs petition urging Trump to pardon ex-officer Derek Chauvin For murdering George Floyd

Elon Musk has lent his support to a campaign urging former US President Donald Trump to pardon Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd in 2020.

Musk responded to a petition led by conservative commentator Ben Shapiro with a brief but suggestive remark: "Something to think about," Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Shapiro, founder of The Daily Wire, argues that Chauvin was "unjustly convicted" and claims political pressure influenced the jury’s decision. Chauvin is currently serving a 22.5-year state sentence for second-degree unintentional murder, alongside a concurrent 21-year federal sentence for violating Floyd’s civil rights.

In an open letter to Trump, Shapiro asserted that the jury was placed under "massive overt pressure to convict." He also reiterated the contested claim that Floyd’s death was primarily caused by pre-existing health conditions and fentanyl use, rather than Chauvin’s restraint.

Musk’s response amplified the petition to his 219 million followers on X, significantly broadening its reach. However, a presidential pardon from Trump would only apply to Chauvin’s federal conviction, leaving his state sentence in place unless reduced by Minnesota authorities.

Legal analysts suggest such a move would be highly controversial, given the racial sensitivities surrounding Floyd’s killing and the global protests it sparked. While Trump has yet to comment on the petition, his history of contentious pardons, including cases involving law enforcement, has led to speculation over whether he may intervene.

Notably, on May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old unarmed African American man, was murdered during an arrest by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. The incident began when a convenience store employee suspected Floyd of using a counterfeit $20 bill and called the police.

Upon arrival, officers handcuffed Floyd, but he resisted being placed in a squad car. A struggle ensued, leading to Floyd being forced face down on the street. Chauvin, a 19-year veteran of the Minneapolis Police Department, knelt on Floyd’s neck and shoulder for over nine minutes while two other officers helped restrain him and another prevented bystanders from intervening.

Floyd repeatedly pleaded that he could not breathe before going limp. He was pronounced dead in hospital an hour later. The widely circulated video footage of the incident sparked global protests against police brutality and racism.

Chauvin, who had a history of conduct complaints, was the most senior officer involved and faced the most serious charges. The day after his arrest, his wife filed for divorce.

By Aghakazim Guliyev