Elon Musk Claims George Floyd’s Convicted Killer Derek Chauvin Is ‘Not a Murderer’

Elon Musk declared convicted killer Derek Chauvin — who was caught on video kneeling on a Minnesota man’s neck for more than nine minutes in a police-involved death that sparked weeks of national riots — is “not a murderer.”

The Tesla CEO’s post on X came hours after Fox News reported Chauvin, 50, is trying to get his state murder conviction vacated for killing George Floyd, who was face down on the ground with his hands behind his back as the then-Minneapolis police officer leaned on his neck.

“Derek Chauvin was unjustly convicted of murder, therefore he should be freed.” Musk wrote Wednesday afternoon. “The facts show that he was not the cause of death, nor did he at any time intend for a death to occur. Whatever else he may be, he is not a murderer. That is the truth.”

It’s the third time Chauvin has tried to appeal his April 2021 conviction, which saw him sentenced to 22.5 years in prison for the 46-year-old Floyd’s May 2020 death.

In November,  Chauvin attempted to get his conviction vacated, a move that was rejected by a judge about seven months later, on May 1, according to Fox News.

Then in June, Chauvin tried again, appealing the judge’s rejection.

In his Tuesday request, Chauvin’s lawyers are asking the court to pause that appeal, so he can ask the trial court to examine new claims — including that Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison should not have been assigned to prosecute his case.

“Mr. Chauvin became aware of additional violations of Mr. Chauvin’s due process rights in the unlawful assignment of authority by Governor Tim Walz to Attorney General Keith Ellison to prosecute State v. Chauvin,” they said in court papers, according to Fox.

Chauvin’s camp also contends judicial bias and failure to convene a grand jury were essentially “structural errors” in his prosecution.

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!