They cited ‘procedural errors’ for the decision
The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has reportedly withdrawn its recommendation of a posthumous pardon for George Floyd.
They cite ‘procedural errors’ as the reason for the withdrawal, and said on Thursday that those errors will be reviewed
The recommendation was made for Floyd’s drug conviction to be pardoned back in October, according to CBS News.
The pardon was reportedly recommended as a result of the involvement of a certain former Houston police officer in Floyd’s arrest.
The officer, Gerald Goines, reportedly lied to obtain a search warrant for a raid that killed a husband and wife in a separate case to Floyd’s. Goines now faces murder charges, though denies any wrongdoing.
According to AP, more than 160 drug convictions connected to Goines have been dismissed over concerns about his casework.
The Texas governor’s press secretary Renae Eze said, “The Board of Pardons and Paroles has withdrawn 25 clemency recommendations that contained procedural errors and lack of compliance with Board rules.
“Among the recommendations withdrawn was one concerning George Floyd. The Board will review and resolve procedural errors and issues related to any pending applications with their rules.”
They then clarified that the application for clemency was not even considered by the Board, meaning the dismissal of the pardon was not based on the merits of the case.
According to CNN, the Texas State board of Pardons and Paroles had previously voted unanimously to recommend a full pardon for Floyd for his 2004 drug conviction.
George Floyd died in May 2020 after then-officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes. Video of the death circulated online and sparked one of the biggest international mass protests in history.
Chauvin was found guilty of George Floyd’s murder in April 2021 and was sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison months later.
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