Attorney General Merrick Garland Merrick Garland Biden says Chauvin verdict is step forward in fight against racial injustice Senate confirms Biden's nominee for No. 2 official at DOJ Why Biden's gun policy doesn't go far enough MORE announced Wednesday morning that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will open an investigation into the policing practices of law enforcement in Minneapolis. The investigation comes a day after a jury in Minneapolis found former city police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of two counts of murder and one count of manslaughter in the death of George Floyd last May. “Although the state's prosecution was successful, I know that nothing can fill the void that the loved ones of George Floyd have felt since his death,” Garland said Wednesday morning. ADVERTISEMENT “Yesterday's verdict in the state criminal trial does not address potentially systemic policing issues in Minneapolis.” The DOJ under President Biden Joe Biden Biden overruled Blinken, top officials on initial refugee cap decision: report Suicide bombing hits Afghan security forces Jim Jordan, Val Demings get in shouting match about police during hearing MORE had been expected to use such "pattern or practice" investigations as the country grapples with police brutality, systemic racism and potential sweeping reforms. The move tees up greater federal oversight of local police departments, giving the DOJ an avenue to bring civil suits against police departments with a pattern of using excessive force or discriminatory practices against certain groups of people, such as people of color or people with disabilities. The result of such an investigation is often a consent decree that effectively gives the DOJ oversight of local police departments for years at a time. “I have been involved in the legal system in one way or another for most of my adult life. I know that justice is sometimes slow, sometimes elusive and sometimes ...
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Justice Department Launches Probe of Minneapolis Police Practices
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks about the Chauvin verdict at the Department of Justice on April 21, 2021. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Pool/Getty Images U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Wednesday that the Department of Justice will be launching a civil investigation of the Minneapolis Police Department to determine whether the department “engages in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional or unlawful policing.” The inquiry will review uses of excessive force (particularly during protests) as well as the treatment of people with “behavioral health disabilities” to determine if officers participate in discriminatory conduct. This comes just one day after a jury found former MPD officer Derek Chauvin guilty of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. During a news conference, Garland said the verdict rendered in the Chauvin case “does not address potentially systemic policing issues in Minneapolis.” He also said this investigation is “separate from and independent of” the ongoing federal criminal investigation into Floyd’s death. “It will include a comprehensive review of the Minneapolis Police Department’s policies, training, supervision and use-of-force investigations. It will assess the effectiveness of the MPD’s current systems of accountability and whether other mechanisms are needed to ensure constitutional and lawful policing,” Garland said . The attorney general said the probe will be led by members from the Justice Department’s civil-rights division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the district of Minnesota. President Biden recently named Kristen Clark as his choice to lead the department’s civil-rights team, a nomination that has faced fierce opposition from Senate Republicans. Garland is asking for “broad participation” from law enforcement and the community in the investigation, calling it “vital to its success.” “The Justice Department has already begun to reach out to community groups and ...
Lawmakers react to guilty verdict in Chauvin murder trial: ‘Our work is far from done’
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle took to social media to share their thoughts after a verdict was reached in the murder trial of Derek Chauvin. Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, was found guilty Tuesday of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the killing of George Floyd . Many politicos expressed approval over the trial outcome, and noted its influence on helping to hold law enforcement accountable. ADVERTISEMENT The jury's verdict delivers accountability for Derek Chauvin, but not justice for George Floyd. Real justice for him and too many others can only happen when we build a nation that fundamentally respects the human dignity of every person. https://t.co/JyJFztQbDu — Bernie Sanders Bernie Sanders Newsmax host: Jury decided to 'sacrifice' Chauvin to the mob Lawmakers react to guilty verdict in Chauvin murder trial: 'Our work is far from done' Senate confirms SEC chief Gensler to full five-year term MORE (@SenSanders) April 20, 2021 Our struggle now is about justice—not justice on paper, but real justice in which all Americans live their lives free of oppression. We must boldly root out the cancer of systemic racism and police violence against people of color. — Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) April 20, 2021 George Floyd’s life mattered. Today’s verdict delivers accountability, but it does not bring him back. Our country must atone for the shameful, racist policies that have denied and stripped Black Americans of their rights for generations. — Ed Markey Ed Markey Lawmakers react to guilty verdict in Chauvin murder trial: 'Our work is far from done' Overnight Energy: Biden reportedly will pledge to halve US emissions by 2030 | Ocasio-Cortez, Markey reintroduce Green New Deal resolution Ocasio-Cortez, Markey reintroduce Green New Deal resolution MORE (@SenMarkey) April 20, 2021 ADVERTISEMENT We must do more to ...
Senate confirms Gupta nomination in tight vote
The Senate on Wednesday narrowly voted to confirm Vanita Gupta, President Biden Joe Biden Biden overruled Blinken, top officials on initial refugee cap decision: report Suicide bombing hits Afghan security forces Jim Jordan, Val Demings get in shouting match about police during hearing MORE 's nominee for the No. 3 position at the Department of Justice (DOJ), despite stiff opposition from Republicans who had criticized her civil rights advocacy during the Trump administration. Just one Republican, Sen. Lisa Murkowski Lisa Ann Murkowski Trump: GOP candidates need to embrace 'make America great' agenda if they want to win Republicans who backed Trump impeachment see fundraising boost Moderates' 0B infrastructure bill is a tough sell with Democrats MORE (Alaska), voted in favor of Gupta. As associate attorney general, Gupta will oversee the DOJ's efforts on civil litigation and law enforcement issues. That portfolio will likely include the federal civil rights investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department, which Attorney General Merrick Garland Merrick Garland Biden says Chauvin verdict is step forward in fight against racial injustice Senate confirms Biden's nominee for No. 2 official at DOJ Why Biden's gun policy doesn't go far enough MORE announced Wednesday, one day after a jury convicted former officer Derek Chauvin on murder charges in the death of George Floyd. Gupta had served under former President Obama as the head of the DOJ's civil rights division, where she directed a similar investigation into police in Ferguson, Mo., following the 2014 killing of Michael Brown by a white officer. During her confirmation process, Gupta has garnered widespread support from law enforcement organizations and conservative figures such as Grover Norquist. Democrats and civil rights activists have thrown their weight behind her nomination, applauding her commitment to the principles ...
Justice Department Launches Probe Into Policing Practices in Minneapolis
The Justice Department has opened a civil investigation into the embattled police department in the Midwestern U.S. city of Minneapolis, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Wednesday, a day after a jury convicted former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd. Chauvin, who is white, was convicted on three counts in the murder of Floyd, a Black man who died after being pinned in the street beneath Chauvin’s knee for more than nine minutes. The sweeping inquiry will examine whether the Minneapolis Police Department has engaged in a “pattern or practice” of unconstitutional policing, Garland said at the Justice Department. It will also look into the department’s use of force against protesters and whether its treatment of people with behavioral disabilities violates federal law. "Building trust between community and law enforcement will take time and effort by all of us, but we undertake this task with determination and urgency, knowing that change cannot wait,” Garland said. The announcement marks a shift in DOJ priorities under President Joe Biden and reflects his administration’s determination to use “pattern or practice” investigations to combat civil rights violations and other abuses in police departments. Such investigations were widely used during the Obama administration but the tactic was subsequently abandoned under former President Donald Trump. Cooperation pledged In a statement, Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said he welcomed the investigation and that he and his department would "cooperate fully.” “I look forward to sharing the great work done by our teams, day in and day out, with the Department of Justice and getting their feedback on how we can serve our communities even better,” Arradondo said. The inquiry into the Minneapolis Police Department is separate from a Justice Department criminal investigation of Floyd’s death, Garland said. The criminal probe is ongoing but legal experts ...
