Ben Shapiro launches a controversial campaign urging President Trump to pardon Derek Chauvin, claiming the former police officer’s conviction in George Floyd’s death was influenced by political pressure rather than impartial justice. Chauvin is presently serving a 22.5-year sentence for George Floyd’s murder in 2020. Chauvin was “unjustly convicted” because of outside pressure on the jury to return a guilty verdict, according to Shapiro. In April of 2021, Chauvin was convicted of unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.
Shapiro’s Pardon Campaign
Ben Shapiro, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” has formally called on President Donald Trump to pardon former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Shapiro’s campaign includes a public petition and letter addressed to Trump, arguing that Chauvin’s conviction for the murder of George Floyd in 2020 occurred under circumstances that prevented a fair trial. The conservative commentator has mobilized his substantial platform to draw attention to what he describes as judicial impropriety in one of the most high-profile criminal cases in recent American history.
In his formal letter to Trump, Shapiro made his position clear: “We write to urge you to immediately issue a pardon for Officer Derek Chauvin, who was unjustly convicted and is currently serving a 22-and-a-half year sentence for the murder of George Floyd and associated federal charges.” The petition has quickly gained traction among conservatives who have questioned the fairness of Chauvin’s trial since the verdict was delivered in April 2021.
It’s amazing how much pushback Ben Shapiro’s call to pardon Derek Chauvin is getting. So an innocent man is in prison but he shouldn’t be released because a Jew that some people dislike wants him freed. Neat. pic.twitter.com/N4KeuGp2Tx
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) March 5, 2025
Claims of Unfair Trial Conditions
Central to Shapiro’s argument is the claim that Chauvin’s trial occurred amid overwhelming external pressure that compromised the jury’s ability to deliberate impartially. He specifically cites what he calls “massive overt pressure on the jury to return a guilty verdict regardless of the evidence or any semblance of impartial deliberation.” Shapiro suggests that the extensive media coverage, political commentary, and public demonstrations created an environment where jurors may have felt compelled to convict regardless of their assessment of the evidence.
“The Ben Shapiro Show” host has launched a petition backing a public letter to Trump, 78, contending that Chauvin, now 48, was “unjustly convicted” of Floyd’s killing, which led to riots in cities across the US and a national reckoning on the issues of race and policing.”
Shapiro’s petition further claims that statements from elected officials, including then-Congresswoman Maxine Waters, who called for protestors to “get more confrontational” if Chauvin was acquitted, potentially intimidated the jury. He argues that such statements from public officials created an atmosphere where jurors may have feared personal consequences if they returned any verdict other than guilty on all counts.
It’s amazing how much pushback Ben Shapiro’s call to pardon Derek Chauvin is getting. So an innocent man is in prison but he shouldn’t be released because a Jew that some people dislike wants him freed. Neat. pic.twitter.com/N4KeuGp2Tx
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) March 5, 2025
Background on Chauvin’s Conviction
Derek Chauvin was convicted by a Minnesota jury in April 2021 on charges of unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. The charges stemmed from the May 2020 death of George Floyd, who died after Chauvin knelt on his neck for approximately nine minutes during an arrest. Floyd’s death, captured on bystander video that circulated globally, sparked nationwide protests and renewed focus on policing practices in America.
Shapiro characterizes Floyd’s death as “the inciting event for the BLM riots” that he claims resulted in billions of dollars in property damage and deteriorating race relations across the United States. This framing has resonated with many conservatives who view the aftermath of Floyd’s death through a different lens than those who participated in or supported the protests.
Chauvin is currently serving his 22.5-year sentence, having been sentenced in June 2021. The former officer also pleaded guilty to federal civil rights violations in December 2021, for which he received a 21-year federal sentence to be served concurrently with his state sentence. Shapiro’s pardon request addresses both the state and federal convictions against Chauvin.