George Floyd's Texas pardon request withdrawn over 'procedural errors'

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott granted eight pardons Thursday, but George Floyd and 24 others were withdrawn from consideration by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles due to "procedural errors."

Floyd's posthumous pardon request was for a 2004 drug conviction.

The governor's press secretary Renae Eze stated, "The Board of Pardons and Paroles has withdrawn 25 clemency recommendations that contained procedural errors and lack of compliance with Board rules."

"As a result of the Board's withdrawal of the recommendation concerning George Floyd, Governor Abbott did not have the opportunity to consider it. Governor Abbott will review all recommendations that the Board submits for consideration," Eze said.

Texas traditionally grants pardons during the holiday season, but posthumous pardons are rare. The most recent one was more than a decade ago.

"Through the gubernatorial pardon, the Governor of Texas has the unique power to grant Texans a second chance," Gov. Abbott said in a statement after pardoning eight people. "I have the utmost respect for our state's legal system."

The pardons board plans to "review and resolve procedural errors" in applications, so Floyd may still be pardoned at a future date.

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted in April of manslaughter and second- and third-degree murder in the death of George Floyd.