<p>In his first admission of criminal wrongdoing in the case, Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, admitted violating the African-American man's civil rights.</p>

<p>Chauvin, 45, pleaded guilty in US District Court to federal charges of using excessive force. He held his knee to Floyd's neck for nearly 10 minutes on May 25, 2020.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-spite-of-the-anger-over-george-floyds-murder-minneapolis-votes-against-scrapping-police-department-426472">In spite of the anger over George Floyd's murder, Minneapolis votes against scrapping police department</a></strong></p>

<p>Chauvin admitted in a plea agreement with the Justice Department that "his willful use of unreasonable force resulted in Mr Floyd's bodily injury and death" and that he "knew that what he was doing was wrong."</p>

<p>"The defendant also knew there was no legal justification to continue his use of force because he was aware that Mr. Floyd not only stopped resisting, but also stopped talking, stopped moving, stopped breathing, and lost consciousness and a pulse," it said.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ex-cop-convicted-of-george-floyds-murder-files-appeal-415631">Ex-cop convicted of George Floyd's murder files appeal</a></strong></p>

<p>A bystander's cellphone video of Floyd's death set off months of protests against police abuse of African-Americans throughout the country.</p>

<p>In another case, Chauvin admitted to violating the constitutional rights of a 14-year-old boy. Chauvin held the handcuffed boy face down on the ground and struck him multiple times on the head with a flashlight in that 2017 incident.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/daunte-wright-trial-prosecutor-says-cop-betrayed-her-badge-defence-blames-the-slain-victim-435308">Daunte Wright trial: Prosecutor says cop 'betrayed her badge', defence blames the slain victim</a></strong></p>

<p>"While recognizing that nothing can repair the harm caused by such acts, the Justice Department is committed to holding accountable those who violate the Constitution, and to safeguarding the civil rights of all Americans," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.</p>

<p>During a Minnesota state trial, Chauvin was convicted of the murder of Floyd, receiving a sentence of 22 and a half years in prison.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas US Edition | Black Lives Matter Movement: A WION Ground Report</strong></p>

<p>Under the plea agreement, he will face a sentence of between 20 and 25 years in prison on the federal charges, which will run concurrently with or beyond the sentence in the state murder case.</p>

<p>That guarantees the former Minneapolis police officer will spend years behind bars, regardless of what happens with the appeal, he has filed on the state murder charge.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In his first admission of criminal wrongdoing in the case, Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, admitted violating the African-American man's civil rights.

In his first admission of criminal wrongdoing in the case, Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, admitted violating the African-American man's civil rights. Chauvin, 45, pleaded guilty in US District Court to federal charges of using excessive force. He held his knee to Floyd's neck for nearly 10 minutes on May 25, 2020. Also read | In spite of the anger over George Floyd's murder, Minneapolis votes against scrapping police department Chauvin admitted in a plea agreement with the Justice Department that "his willful use of unreasonable force resulted in Mr Floyd's bodily injury and death" and that he "knew that what he was doing was wrong." "The defendant also knew there was no legal justification to continue his use of force because he was aware that Mr. Floyd not only stopped resisting, but also stopped talking, stopped moving, stopped breathing, and lost consciousness and a pulse," it said. Also read | Ex-cop convicted of George Floyd's murder files appeal A bystander's cellphone video of Floyd's death set off months of protests against police abuse of African-Americans throughout the country. In another case, Chauvin admitted to violating the constitutional rights of a 14-year-old boy. Chauvin held the handcuffed boy face down on the ground and struck him multiple times on the head with a flashlight in that 2017 incident. Also read | Daunte Wright trial: Prosecutor says cop 'betrayed her badge', defence blames the slain victim "While recognizing that nothing can repair the harm caused by such acts, the Justice Department is committed to holding accountable those who violate the Constitution, and to safeguarding the civil rights of all Americans," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. During a Minnesota state trial, Chauvin was convicted of the murder of Floyd, receiving a sentence of 22 and a half years in prison. Watch | Gravitas US Edition | Black Lives Matter Movement: A WION Ground Report Under the plea agreement, he will face a sentence of between 20 and 25 years in prison on the federal charges, which will run concurrently with or beyond the sentence in the state murder case. That guarantees the former Minneapolis police officer will spend years behind bars, regardless of what happens with the appeal, he has filed on the state murder charge. (With inputs from agencies)

White officer's 'first admission of guilt': Chauvin pleads guilty to violating George Floyd's civil rights

<p>As the court declared former <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-ex-cop-derek-chauvin-found-guilty-of-murder-manslaughter-in-the-death-of-george-floyd-378898">Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin </a>was guilty for May 2020 death of George Floyd, several celebrities took to social media to welcome the &nbsp;court's verdict.&nbsp;<br />
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Chauvin was charged with second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.&nbsp;<br />
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Celebrities like Cher, Ellen DeGeneres, Alyssa Milano and others expressed their opinion post the verdict.&nbsp;<br />
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"THANK GOD," Cher tweeted. "OH HAPPY DAY."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">THANK GOD🙏🏻🙏🏽🙏🏾<br />
OH HAPPY DAY</p>
— Cher (@cher) <a href="https://twitter.com/cher/status/1384615654775431171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>"Justice," tweeted Ellen DeGeneres.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Justice.</p>
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheEllenShow/status/1384614812861173768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>"FOUND GUILTY ON ALL THREE CHARGES," actress Alyssa Milano said. "Rest In Peace, George Floyd. You have changed the world."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">FOUND GUILTY ON ALL THREE CHARGES.<br />
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Rest In Peace, George Floyd. You have changed the world. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/verdict?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#verdict</a></p>
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) <a href="https://twitter.com/Alyssa_Milano/status/1384615267053948934?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>"Guilty on all counts!!!!!" said Padma Lakshmi. She later shared a photo of Chauvin being escorted out of the courtroom in handcuffs and wrote alongside it, "Guilty."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Guilty on all counts!!!!!</p>
— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) <a href="https://twitter.com/PadmaLakshmi/status/1384614693726269441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Guilty <a href="https://t.co/vOAGmV9MpR">pic.twitter.com/vOAGmV9MpR</a></p>
— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) <a href="https://twitter.com/PadmaLakshmi/status/1384617348355788802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>"Justice. Sending love to George Floyd’s family and friends," Chris Evans wrote.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Justice. Sending love to George Floyd’s family and friends.</p>
— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisEvans/status/1384615626941943817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>"Thank you God! Thank you jurors," she tweeted. "Thank you witnesses for the prosecution. Love to the Floyd family," tweeted Patricia Arquette.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you God! Thank you jurors. Thank you witnesses for the prosecution. Love to the Floyd family.</p>
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) <a href="https://twitter.com/PattyArquette/status/1384617350750683143?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>Whoopi Goldberg wrote, "Guilty Guilty Guilty... No one wins.. George Floyd is still gone..and finally someone was responsible... Derek Chauvin."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Guilty Guilty Guilty... No one wins.. George Floyd is still gone..and finally someone was responsible... Derek Chauvin</p>
— Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhoopiGoldberg/status/1384616052504543238?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>"A guilty #verdict. But this fight for justice is not over. We have a lot of work to do. There is more fight ahead of us. But RIGHT NOW please take CARE of yourself. And let’s take care of each other. Prayers and love to the family of #GeorgeFloyd," said Kerry Washington.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A guilty <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/verdict?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#verdict</a>. But this fight for justice is not over. We have a lot of work to do. There is more fight ahead of us. But RIGHT NOW please take CARE of yourself. And let’s take care of each other. Prayers and love to the family of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GeorgeFloyd?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GeorgeFloyd</a>.</p>
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) <a href="https://twitter.com/kerrywashington/status/1384617685649035266?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>Chauvin faces up to 40 years in prison on the most serious charge -- second-degree murder. Sentencing will be at a later date.</p>

<p>The 19-year veteran of the Minneapolis police force was seen on video kneeling on the neck of Floyd for more than nine minutes as he lay face down and handcuffed on the ground saying repeatedly "I can't breathe."</p>

<p>The 46-year-old Floyd's death during his May 25, 2020 arrest for allegedly passing a counterfeit $20 bill sparked protests against racial injustice and police brutality around the world.</p>


As the court declared former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was guilty for May 2020 death of George Floyd, several celebrities took to social media to welcome the court's verdict.

As the court declared former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was guilty for May 2020 death of George Floyd, several celebrities took to social media to welcome the court's verdict. Chauvin was charged with second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Celebrities like Cher, Ellen DeGeneres, Alyssa Milano and others expressed their opinion post the verdict. "THANK GOD," Cher tweeted. "OH HAPPY DAY." THANK GOD🙏🏻🙏🏽🙏🏾 OH HAPPY DAY — Cher (@cher) April 20, 2021 × "Justice," tweeted Ellen DeGeneres. Justice. — Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) April 20, 2021 × "FOUND GUILTY ON ALL THREE CHARGES," actress Alyssa Milano said. "Rest In Peace, George Floyd. You have changed the world." FOUND GUILTY ON ALL THREE CHARGES. Rest In Peace, George Floyd. You have changed the world. #verdict — Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) April 20, 2021 × "Guilty on all counts!!!!!" said Padma Lakshmi. She later shared a photo of Chauvin being escorted out of the courtroom in handcuffs and wrote alongside it, "Guilty." Guilty on all counts!!!!! — Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) April 20, 2021 × Guilty pic.twitter.com/vOAGmV9MpR — Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) April 20, 2021 × "Justice. Sending love to George Floyd’s family and friends," Chris Evans wrote. Justice. Sending love to George Floyd’s family and friends. — Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) April 20, 2021 × "Thank you God! Thank you jurors," she tweeted. "Thank you witnesses for the prosecution. Love to the Floyd family," tweeted Patricia Arquette. Thank you God! Thank you jurors. Thank you witnesses for the prosecution. Love to the Floyd family. — Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) April 20, 2021 × Whoopi Goldberg wrote, "Guilty Guilty Guilty... No one wins.. George Floyd is still gone..and finally someone was responsible... Derek Chauvin." Guilty Guilty Guilty... No one wins.. George Floyd is still gone..and finally someone was responsible... Derek Chauvin — Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) April 20, 2021 × "A guilty #verdict. But this fight for justice is not over. We have a lot of work to do. There is more fight ahead of us. But RIGHT NOW please take CARE of yourself. And let’s take care of each other. Prayers and love to the family of #GeorgeFloyd," said Kerry Washington. A guilty #verdict. But this fight for justice is not over. We have a lot of work to do. There is more fight ahead of us. But RIGHT NOW please take CARE of yourself. And let’s take care of each other. Prayers and love to the family of #GeorgeFloyd. — kerry washington (@kerrywashington) April 20, 2021 × Chauvin faces up to 40 years in prison on the most serious charge -- second-degree murder. Sentencing will be at a later date. The 19-year veteran of the Minneapolis police force was seen on video kneeling on the neck of Floyd for more than nine minutes as he lay face down and handcuffed on the ground saying repeatedly "I can't breathe." The 46-year-old Floyd's death during his May 25, 2020 arrest for allegedly passing a counterfeit $20 bill sparked protests against racial injustice and police brutality around the world.

Chris Evans, Ellen DeGeneres, Cher and others react to Derek Chauvin's verdict

Thousands gathered outside Houston's Fountain of Praise Church to pay respects to George Floyd.

Thousands pay tribute to George Floyd in Houston

The Minneapolis Ex-police officer charged with second-degree murder in George Floyd’s death made his first court appearance Monday.

Derek Chauvin makes first court appearance in George Floyd Case