Politico | George Floyd death: Joe Biden ‘praying’ for guilty verdict in Derek Chauvin trial
- The US president spoke to the victim’s family on the phone after the jury began its deliberations
- A verdict could be reached at any time, and National Guard troops have been deployed in major cities in anticipation of potential unrest
This story is published in a content partnership with POLITICO. It was originally reported by Quint Forgey on politico.com on April 20, 2021.
The president’s remarks represent some of the most opinionated comments he has offered on Chauvin’s trial since it began in late March. Biden noted that he had waited until the Chauvin jury had been sequestered before making his own feelings about the criminal case public.
“I’m praying the verdict is the right verdict, which is – I think it’s overwhelming, in my view,” he told reporters in the Oval Office. “I wouldn’t say that unless the jury was sequestered now, not hearing me say that.”
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Anti-racism and police brutality protests sparked by death of George Floyd continue around the globe
Biden also elaborated on a phone call he made to the Floyd family on Monday, after the prosecution and defence lawyers finished their closing arguments and the jury began its deliberations.