George Floyd’s name was removed from the Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s list of clemency recommendations. His death caused police brutality and BLM riots in the US.
Abbott granted pardons to eight Texans Thursday, for crimes that were committed between 1965-2013
The list of pardoned individuals notably excluded George Floyd, whose posthumous pardon for a 2004 drug conviction was recommended by the state’s Board of Pardons and Paroles in October. The board ultimately withdrew 25 of its clemency recommendations including Floyd. “procedural errors and lack of compliance with Board rules.”
“The Board will review and resolve procedural errors and issues related to any pending applications in compliance with their rules,” Abbott’s Press Secretary Renae Eze said, adding that the governor “did not have the opportunity to consider” Floyd’s case. Eze stated that Abbott would consider any clemency requests he receives in the future.
The Board’s chair, David Gutierrez, complained in a December 16 letter that an “unusually high number”Two recommendations were initially submitted to Abbott this past year. “explain this aberration.”
Floyd, who was black and lived in Texas for most of his childhood, was murdered by Derek Chauvin, a white cop, in a failed arrest attempt in Minneapolis in May 2020. Floyd’s death sparked months-long protests against police brutality and for racial justice across the US and abroad, as well as riots and clashes with police. Chauvin received a sentence of 22.5 years for the murder of Floyd in June.
Kim Ogg, Harris County District Attorney, demanded that Floyd be pardoned by Abbott. She argued in April the Harris County District Attorney had to argue in her favor. Kim Ogg claimed in April that Floyd was arrested in 2004 and later charged with murder for a separate drug raid.
Allison Mathis, a public defender who applied for Floyd’s pardon, told The Dallas Morning News on Thursday that Abbott and his team “let their politics triumph over the right thing to do and what clearly is justice.”She stated that she didn’t know that there was an issue with her application.
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