Judge Peter Cahill is none too pleased about what has been described as inflammatory comments from California congresswoman Maxine Waters while in the Twin Cities for a demonstration over the weekend. Waters was asked what should happen if the jury finds Chauvin not guilty.
"We gotta stay on the street and we've got to get more active. We've got to get more confrontational. We've got to make sure that they know that we mean business."
Chauvin's defense attorney Eric Nelson asked Judge Peter Cahill to declare a mistrial over what he called pervasive media coverage of the case, made worse by Waters' remarks. Cahill said the remarks may give Nelson material for an appeal that could result in the trial being overturned. He also said public figures like Waters should not be commenting on the case.
"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 a co-equal branch of government. Their failure to do so, I think is abhorrent. But I don't think it is prejudiced us with additional material that would prejudice history. They have been told not to watch the news. I trust they are following those instructions."
Cahill said a congresswoman's opinion really doesn't matter a whole lot. He denied the defense's motion for a mistrial.