Chauvin pleads guilty to federal charges of violating Floyd's civil rights

Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges of violating George Floyd's civil rights during his summer 2020 arrest, avoiding a trial but likely adding to his time behind bars on the related murder charge.

Chauvin, who is white, was convicted this past spring on state murder and manslaughter charges for kneeling on the neck of Floyd, a black man, during the May 25, 2020. arrest for which Chauvin was sentenced to 22 1/2 years behind bars.

The federal charges included two counts alleging that Chauvin deprived Floyd of his rights by kneeling on his neck as he was handcuffed and not resisting, then failing to provide medical care, according to the Associated Press.