Minnesota attorney general to assist prosecutor with George Floyd cases

Keith Ellison.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Sunday announced he will assist Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman in cases stemming from the death of George Floyd.

Freeman said there have been "recent developments in the facts of the case where the help and expertise of the attorney general would be valuable," and Ellison has agreed to be a full partner.

Floyd died last Monday after a Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd's neck for several minutes, as Floyd told him, "I can't breathe." The officer, Derek Chauvin, and three others who were there during the arrest were fired on Tuesday. Chauvin was arrested and charged on Friday with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

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On Saturday, Floyd's family asked that Ellison take over the case. During a Sunday press conference, Ellison said it is too early to answer questions about how he will work with Freeman. Their first meeting will be held on Monday.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.