Jury selection is underway in the federal trial of three ex-Minneapolis police officers facing charges for violating George Floyd's civil rights, USA Today reports.
According to a Department of Justice news release, allegedly "all four defendants, while acting under color of law, willfully deprived Mr. Floyd of his constitutional rights."
On May 25, 2020, Derek Chauvin pressed his left knee on Floyd's neck, and his right knee on his back even after Floyd became unresponsive. The indictment alleges that Chauvin's actions violated Floyd's "right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a police officer" and "resulted in bodily injury to, and the death of, George Floyd."
Chauvin, Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao pleaded not guilty. However, in December, Chauvin changed his plea to guilty and will not have to stand trial, USA Today reports.
As the officers were in the process of arresting Floyd, Kueng and Lane were seen in videos assisting in the arrest, according to CNN.
Prosecutors have to prove the former officers willfully violated Floyd
Prosecutors will now have to prove they willfully deprived Floyd of his constitutional rights.
All of the officers are charged with withholding medical care to Floyd, violating his right "not to be deprived of liberty without due process of law." Kueng and Thao also face a second charge of violating Floyd's right to be free from an unreasonable seizure while Chauvin had Floyd pinned to the ground.
Kueng, Lane and Thao still face state charges in Floyd's death. If the three are convicted, they will face up to 40 years in prison on charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and up to 10 years for aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.
