The judge presiding over the murder trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin said “disrespectful”

Waters, D-Calif., joined protests in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota on April 17, where she told the press “we are looking for a guilty verdict” in Chauvin’s trial.

“If nothing (happens), then we know … we’ve got to not only stay in the streets, that we’ve got to fight for justice. That I am very hopeful, and I hope that we’re going to get a verdict that is a guilty, guilty, guilty. And if we don’t, we cannot go away,” Waters said, according to video by WCCO-TV.

Chauvin is accused of killing George Floyd, a Black man who died after Chauvin knelt on his neck for nine minutes in May 2020.

After closing arguments, Judge Peter Cahill rejected a defense request for a mistrial based in part on Waters’ remarks.

The judge presiding over the murder trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin said “disrespectful” statements made by Rep. Maxine Waters Saturday may give the defense grounds to appeal and overturn the trial. Attorneys for the prosecution and the defense delivered closing arguments on Monday.

“I’m aware the Congresswoman Waters was talking specifically about this trial and about the unacceptability of anything less than a murder conviction and talk about being confrontational,” Cahill said. “I think if (representatives) want to give their opinions, they should do so in a manner that is consistent with their oath to the Constitution to respect the co-equal branch of government.”

“Their failure to do so, I think, is abhorrent, but I don’t think it has prejudiced us with additional material that would prejudice this jury,” he continued. “A congresswoman’s opinion really doesn’t matter a whole lot.”