Chauvin pleads guilty to violating civil rights of George Floyd

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal charge of violating George Floyd's civil rights.

Chauvin was convicted this spring of state murder and manslaughter charges in the death of Floyd on May 25, 2020, and was sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison.

In his federal plea Wednesday, Chauvin, who is white, admitted for the first time that he kept his knee on Floyd's neck — even after he became unresponsive — resulting in the 46-year-old black man's death.

Chauvin admitted that he knew what he did to Floyd was wrong and he had a "callous and wanton disregard" for Floyd's life, the plea agreement said. It also said Chauvin "was aware that Floyd not only stopped resisting, but also stopped talking, stopped moving, stopped breathing, and lost consciousness and a pulse".

Floyd's arrest and death, which a bystander captured on cellphone video, sparked mass protests nationwide calling for an end to racial inequality and police mistreatment of black people.

A second federal count in Floyd's death was dismissed, but Chauvin pleaded guilty to another count in an unrelated 2017 case.

Nine people were in court to support Chauvin, including family members. He waved and smiled at them as he entered and left the courtroom in handcuffs. He said "Guilty, your honor" to confirm his pleas, and acknowledged that he committed the acts alleged.

Several members of Floyd's family were present Wednesday. George Floyd's nephew, Brandon Williams, afterward called Chauvin a "monster".

Chauvin could have faced life in prison on the federal count, one possible incentive for him to avoid trial. Under the plea agreement, both sides agreed Chauvin should face a sentence ranging from 20 to 25 years, with prosecutors saying they would seek 25. The final sentence will be up to District Judge Paul Magnuson, but Chauvin is likely to face more time behind bars than he would on the state charges alone.

Three other former officers were indicted on federal charges alongside Chauvin.

An attorney for Floyd's family, Jeff Storms, said they planned to head to Minneapolis later Wednesday to support the family of Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old black man who was fatally shot in a traffic stop during Chauvin's state trial. The police officer in that case, Kim Potter, is on trial on manslaughter charges.

The other three former officers are still expected to go to trial on federal charges in January, and they face state trial on aiding and abetting counts in March.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.