Kayleigh McEnany Warns Biden Over Trial Comments: “The Role Of The President Is To Stay Back, Not Inflame Tensions”
Former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Tuesday warned President Joe Biden against speaking out about the Derek Chauvin trial after Joe made some comments he probably should not have.
“I’m glad that he at least waited until the jury was sequestered,” McEnany said. “But I think that the country is such a tinderbox right now, especially Minneapolis. There’s so much hurt, so much pain.”
“And I think it’s the role of the president of the United States to stay back, to not inflame the tensions. I think he should have just reserved comment and said he’s praying for the family as we all are,” she added.
Biden told reporters he was praying for the “right verdict” and that he believed there was overwhelming evidence Chauvin is guilty.
Biden said he had spoken to Floyd’s family and “can only imagine the pressure and anxiety they’re feeling.”
“They’re a good family and they’re calling for peace and tranquility no matter what that verdict is,” Biden said. “I’m praying the verdict is the right verdict. I think it’s overwhelming, in my view. I wouldn’t say that unless the jury was sequestered now.”
From The AP:
Prosecutors argued that Chauvin squeezed the life out of Floyd last May when the white officer knelt on or near the 46-year-old Black man’s neck for 9 1/2 minutes. The defense contended that the now-fired white officer acted reasonably and that a heart condition and illegal drug use led to Floyd’s death.
The jury of six white people and six people who are Black or multiracial spent just a few hours on their task Monday after the day was mostly consumed by closing arguments. They will remain sequestered until verdicts are reached.
Chauvin, 45, is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter The most serious charge carries up to 40 years in prison.
Ahead of a verdict, some stores were boarded up in Minneapolis, the courthouse was ringed with concrete barriers and razor wire, and National Guard troops were on patrol. Last spring, Floyd’s death set off protests along with vandalism and arson in Minneapolis.
The city has also been on edge in recent days over the deadly police shooting of a 20-year-old Black man, Daunte Wright, in Brooklyn Center on April 11.
Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott joined a group of residents Tuesday to call for transparency and accountability in policing.
The mayor said he has met with Wright’s family several times and vowed to “do all that’s within our power to make sure that we are implementing the kind of changes that would prevent another Daunte.”
“What this community is saying is that his life is going to continue to matter,” Elliott said.