4mo ago

Elon Musk Calls on Trump to Pardon Ex-Cop Derek Chauvin, Who Murdered George Floyd

www.democracynow.org Elon Musk Calls on Trump to Pardon Ex-Cop Derek Chauvin, Who Murdered George Floyd

Elon Musk has joined calls for President Trump to pardon ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted of murdering George Floyd in 2020. A Trump pardon would end Chauvin’s 20-year sentence on federal convictions for violating Floyd’s civil rights, but Trump does not have the power ...

You're viewing a single thread.

154 comments

Do you want riots? Because that's how you get riots.
- actually, yes. I think they do.
  
  Not saying you're wrong just want to understand youre thinking why would they want riots? Isnt that the only real threat to them?
  
  Triggering division as an excuse for suppression is Dictator 101.
  Your political opponents are lawless? That means you can legally crack down on them.
  It has the side benefit of stirring the shit/divisions which is what keeps Trump in place.
  
  Makes sense thanks for explaining
  
  Mhm. It’s understandably counterintuitive, and indeed a problem for "regular" politicians.
  You'd think it would make Trump lose support, and to some extent it does, but I guess you also have to understand how warped the US information environment is. Anyone who cares about George Floyd and actually sees this in their news feed would not support Trump anyway, whereas that’s not the case for nearly any past president. Supporters who see the riots would write them off as not Trumps fault.
  
  Enact martial law, take over all legislation, be a dictator. Job done.
  That's why he's firing everyone at the top of the military who isn't a white male.
  
  trump has been looking to apply the insurrection act since his first term. with the various sycophants in congress and the executive, there has never been a more opportune time (other than tomorrow, of course).
  as to why... well, trump has gotten even more messianic since his first term. suppression of dissent would be a powerplay that may yield significant dividends, showing loyalists the need to stay in the camp and detractors what happens when you resist.
  just my 0.02
  
  Thanks to the weakness of our system and certain pathetic losers holding their values and personal ethics over the national security interests of the United States nothing was ever done about trump's sedition. I will never forgive our previous president for not doing exactly what needed to be done to deal with the DOMESTIC THREAT to the constitution that he was sworn to protect by not eliminating the republican party/scotus/and a certain billionaire. Had our previous president made the 'tough call' that presidents are required to make to protect the nation and the constitution then we simply wouldn't be in this position. I will never believe that our previous president wasn't briefed on the threat posed by all of this and wasn't fully aware of everything. There will never be any excusing him allowing things to happen this way. The man was in his 80s even had he been in any legal trouble over this his life is functionally over at this point fuck him for doing nothing when he was the only one who could achieve this on his own.
  
  Authoritarians equate fear with respect. Aggressively putting down a riot makes people scared = people respect them. It is the same reason Putin jails critics inhumanely or Kim kills families of defectors in NK. If people lose their fear of them these despots are powerless.
  
  Huh. Makes sense then, the pardon. Jesus Christ.
- I wouldn't be surprised if that is not the point.
- Dude will still spend 22.5 years in prison even with a pardon.
  
  Non American here, how does that work?
  
  The president can pardon him on federal charges. He still faces the 22.5 years on state charges. Basically, he was convicted of murder in Minnesota, and then civil rights violations in federal court.

154 comments