MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Tensions are rising across Minnesota as Governor Tim Walz, the Minnesota National Guard, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt prepare for potential civil unrest amid speculation that President Donald Trump may pardon former police officer Derek Chauvin.
According to a report by KSTP-TV, multiple state and local agencies have already been briefed on riot preparations, including emergency response protocols and transportation plans for Chauvin, should he be released from federal custody.
“With this presidency, it seems like something they would do,” Gov. Walz said Monday, referring to the Trump administration’s history of challenging political orthodoxy. “It behooves us to be prepared.”
Chauvin: At the Center of a National Firestorm
Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted for the death of George Floyd, is currently serving two concurrent sentences—a 21-year federal term for civil rights violations and a 22.5-year Minnesota sentence for second-degree murder.
His 2020 arrest and subsequent conviction sparked nationwide riots, the Black Lives Matter movement’s largest mobilization, and widespread calls for police reform.
Now, speculation over a possible presidential pardon by Trump is setting off alarm bells in political and activist circles alike.
Correctional System on Standby
The Minnesota Department of Corrections has reportedly been instructed to prepare for Chauvin’s return to Oak Park Heights Prison from the federal facility in Tucson, Arizona, should a pardon be issued.
The same facility was the site of a brutal attack on Chauvin in 2023, when fellow inmate John Turscak stabbed him 22 times, nearly killing him.
Attorney General Ellison Dismisses Pardon Talk
Despite the growing concern, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison—an outspoken supporter of the Floyd prosecution—insisted on MSNBC that Chauvin’s legal obligations are far from over.
“He still owes Minnesota 22-and-a-half years,” Ellison said. “He’s not getting out.”
But legal experts note that a presidential pardon could only impact federal charges, leaving Chauvin bound to serve his state sentence—unless the state itself moves to commute or modify it.
Political and Public Backlash Brewing
While President Trump has not confirmed any intention to pardon Chauvin, the mere suggestion has sparked outrage from left-wing activists and progressive politicians who warn of “explosive consequences.”
Antifa-affiliated groups have already begun posting calls to action online, urging supporters to mobilize “immediately” if a pardon is announced.
A State on Edge
The memory of the 2020 riots—which left parts of Minneapolis burned, looted, and devastated—is still fresh. Businesses are reportedly reviewing their insurance policies, security firms are on alert, and state authorities are drawing up containment and de-escalation plans.
Minnesota residents, meanwhile, are watching closely—hoping for calm but preparing for the worst.
As the possibility of a presidential pardon looms, one thing is clear: the nation is not done reliving the chaos of 2020
