Civic Register
| 4.19.21
Judge in Chauvin Trial Rebukes Waters Over Call for Protesters to 'Get More Confrontational’ & Warns Case May Be Overturned on Appeal
Were Waters’s comments disrespectful of the judicial process & incitement of violence?
What’s the story?
- Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill, who is presiding over the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd, rebuked Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) after she called for protesters to “get more confrontational” and warned that her statements could lead to the trial being overturned on appeal.
- Waters spoke to the media at a weekend rally in nearby Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, where she said she is looking “for a guilty verdict” on a murder charge and that protesters will need to “fight for justice” before adding:
“We’ve got to stay on the street and we’ve got to get more active, we’ve got to get more confrontational. We’ve got to make sure that they know that we mean business.”
- Judge Cahill addressed the comments made by Waters after Chauvin’s lawyers made a motion for a mistrial on the grounds that her comments and others would prejudice the jury:
“Well, I’ll give you that Congresswoman Waters may have given you something on appeal that may result in this whole trial being overturned. I’m aware that Congresswoman Waters was talking specifically about this trial, and about the unacceptability of anything less than a murder conviction, and talk about being confrontational. But you can submit the press articles about that.
This goes back to what I’ve been saying from the beginning. I wish elected officials would stop talking about this case, especially in a manner that is disrespectful to the rule of law, and to the judicial branch and our function. I think if they want to give their opinions, they should do so in a respectful and in a manner that is consistent with their oath to the Constitution, to respect a coequal branch of government.
Their failure to do so I think is abhorrent, but I don’t think it has prejudices with additional material that would prejudice this jury. They were told not to watch the news. I trust they are following those instructions, and that there is not in any way a prejudice to the defendant beyond the articles that were talking specifically about the facts of this case. A congresswoman’s opinion really doesn't matter a whole lot. Anyway, so motion for mistrial is denied.”
- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told reporters on Monday that she doesn’t think Waters should apologize and that, “Maxine talked about confrontation in the manner of the civil rights movement.”
- House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) announced that is planning to introduce a resolution to censure Waters for her comments in a tweet which read:
“This weekend in Minnesota, Maxine Waters broke the law by violating curfew and then incited violence. Speaker Pelosi is ignoring Waters’ behavior―that’s why I am introducing a resolution to censure Rep. Waters for these dangerous comments.”
- Censure is one of the most severe forms of punishment the House of Representatives can mete out, second only to expulsion. The last member of the House to be censured was former Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) in 2010 over ethics violations and unpaid taxes.
- A censure resolution offered by McCarthy would receive privileged floor consideration under the House rules because he is the minority leader, and Democrats will offer a motion to table it when he brings it up. If the motion to table fails, a vote on the censure of Waters would follow.
— Eric Revell
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The republicans should demand her arrest and removal from office. The Officer has a good chance on appeal thanks to this troublemaker. All she is doing is increasing racism, not doing anything to alleviate it. The black community has no right to be doing what they are doing in this country. They have caused countless billions of dollars in damages since the dreadful civil rights movement and all the rioting and looting over the years. "Black community, thank you for making this the most dangerous country in the world thanks to your violent behavior." Because of your violent behavior the last year and the precious monuments and statues you have destroyed,, your lives do not matter to me. I wonder how you would feel if the White population went around destroying Martin Lucifer King statues, and other black symbols? Hypocrites!
No. They jury took an oath and were instructed not to watch the news.
What’s true for Trump is true for Watters and anyone else who has an opinion.
YES. Intended or not that is what happened as did with 45’s constant call for retribution. Totally inexcusable.
Intended or not that is what happened as did with 45’s constant call for retribution. Totally inexcusable.
I like Rep Waters ambit hope she learned a lesson...and don’t interfere again. If this case is overturned this will also be her downfall.
Disrespectful?!?!? HA!! The insurrection and failed coup got a pass when our capital was looted and people were murdered. 🤷♀️ Republicans tried to OVERTHROW OUR GOVERNMENT. So the false outrage? Go F yourselves.
Open you eyes, this is not the 1st time or the last as long as she is protected by Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats.
God forbid a black rep gets to speak her truth... call the cops , or wait maybe don’t.
Senior Dem congress member Maxine Waters goes to another state to talk DIRECTLY with rioters that have ALREADY been burning & looting! ordering them "ya GOT to stay on the street, get MORE ACTIVE, MORE CONFRONTATIONAL" Race-baiting to the MAX! Daunte Wright, George Floyd and Michael Brown have one thing in common. They all died tragically after they CHOSE to RESIST arrest by Police. They would be alive today had THEY not resisted, and you KNOW it. Yet some politicians are telling black men to resist police, WHY? 5 shot fatally in Chicago last weekend including a 7-year-old girl killed & her father seriously wounded in a shooting Sunday in a McDonald’s drive-thru. So far no Dems, BLM, NAACP, WH or Biden/Harris care because NO WHITE people can be blamed! FIX Chicago's WEEKLY Black on Black killings FIRST! https://www.nbcchicago.com/top-videos-home/7-year-old-fatally-shot-in-drive-thru-of-chicago-mcdonalds/2489800/
Maxine Waters is a liability and she should resign . She opens her mouth and spews angry , irrational and violence inducing vitriol. Enough already. Maybe she should be evaluated for mental soundness.
Waters is an irrational and unreasonable person. No one person not to mention a flipping senator should be threatening anybody because of their political views. Where is the professionalism!?!?!
I haven’t seen/heard her comments in context. What I can say is that I am sick and tired of our leaders, no matter who, advocating for violence against others. I am even more sick and tired of unarmed black men dying in police custody, with little or no consequences for officers/police departments. THIS GOES BEYOND DISRESPECT...of justice, of our human rights, of ethics and morality.
Maxine Walters was wrong to call for a conviction of Chauvin before the trial is over, if that is what she actually said. She would be free to tell protestors to stay strong and stand up for what they believe - and that it no way is an incitement to riot, it is an encouragement to not be afraid to use the right of protest of governmental actions which includes judicial processes. The Judge was wrong to call her out by name and angrily state on the record that this could be a basis for a mistrial - unless he is willing to call out all of the politicians who have expressed opinions about trials that have not been completed. Just where was the judicial outrage at all of the trump statements regarding who is guilty or who is not? Where was the judicial outrage over Senate Republicans stating that they would work with trump to prevent an Impeachment conviction because they knew he was not guilty- and then swearing an oath to be impartial jurors? Where was the judicial outrage over McConnell holding numerous closed door sessions to cajole individual jurors to vote the way he and the trumpublican party wanted - which would be punished for any other jury being tampered with before the trial was completed? How many verdicts after trumpublican comments were overturned as mistrials? How many verdicts were pardoned by the trump for all of the convicted felons who could provide information on the trump’s illicit actions? Where was the Court and how was their inaction not a violation of their oath’s of office in providing appropriate Constitutional checks for an out of control President? … … … So spare me the judicial outrage at Walter’s comments - which I agree were inappropriate if she did demand a conviction which could have effected the jury. If we are a country driven by the rule of law and blind justice, then our judiciary must never have different standards for calling out political comments on the record that may effect justice. Either call out all such inappropriate comments or call out none of them. Be just!
I wish this hadn’t happened, definitely not a good look. But cause for a mistrial? No I don’t think so. On a side note... Y’all remember when trump took out ads calling for the death of the Central Park five before they were even proven guilty (they weren’t). Nobody cared about his presuming of these young black kids innocence or guilt so idk how some people get off when Maxine waters presumes chauven guilty
Maxine makes the case for term limits also Reps should have to reside in their districts. Don’t kill the messenger the the judge explained it clearly including the chance her actions could lead to a mistrial.
Representative Waters did not encourage violence or civil disobedience through her comments. She stood with the BLM movement and encouraged activists to continue to peacefully protest and advocate for justice and police accountability. The people who are turning against Waters only want to discredit her and therefore the entire BLM base.
This is not the only time she has encouraged violence. I believe and have believed for quite a while that she has a reckless disregard for the consequences of her words and actions!
Grow a pair and do everything possible to get rid of this nutjob.
Waters is stoking unrest and division as are Biden, Harris, Pelosi, Schumer ...let's just say the whole of the democrat party or the list would be too long. The democrats are bent on destroying the constitution and the country. The democrats in power are the 'insurgents' but they 'storm' the Capitol legally, on a daily basis as they are 'elected insurgents' that have unfettered access. It's about control and I for one will not be controlled. I will not be politically nor socially correct by their norms. They, as did I took an oath to protect the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic, I see we apparently have differing opinions as to what that protection is. Biden (Just Biden...I can also play the 'Not My President' card) should not have 'waded' into the George Floyd case. I take exception to his mistaken belief that the Country is systematically racist and cannot nor will not subscribe to that mindset. I don't listen to blathering idiots or 'socialist wanna bees'. God Bless The United States Of America...and the Constitution which is it's foundation!