Judge Peter Cahill, who is presiding over former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin’s trial, blasted Dem. Congresswoman Maxine Waters’ comments calling them “an abhorrent intervention” in the case.
Cahill added that those comments could lead to a guilty verdict being overturned as the defense attorney for Chauvin complained of an extremely influenced jury.
“I’m aware that Congresswoman Waters talking specifically about this trial and about the unacceptability of anything less than a murder conviction and talk of being confrontational,” the judge said.
“This goes back to what I’ve been saying in the beginning. I wish elected officials would stop talking about this case, especially in a manner that is disrespectful to the rule of law and to the judicial branch in our function.”
He added: “I think if they want to give their opinions, they should do so in a respectful and in a manner that is consistent with their oath to the constitution, to respect co-equal branch of government.”
Chauvin’s defense attorney Eric Nelson pushed for a mistrial on Monday evoking Waters’ comments and media coverage of the case.
“Now that we have US representatives threatening acts of violence in relation to this trial, it’s frankly mind-blowing,” he said.
Cahill then replied: “I’ll give you that Congresswoman Waters may have given you something on appeal that may result in this whole trial being overturned.”
