House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy introduces a resolution to denounce Democratic Congressman Maxine Waters after encouraging Minnesota protesters to “stay on the streets” and “become more confrontational” if they do not see a guilty verdict reflected in the Derek Chauvin process regarding the death of George Floyd
Waters made the comments during a protest over the weekend, ahead of a verdict in the trial of Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. Waters told reporters that Chauvin should be found guilty.
“I hope we get a verdict that says guilty, guilty, guilty,” she said.
Her comments also came after the death of Daunte Wright, a black man murdered by a Minnesota police officer.
When reporters asked Waters what to do if justice isn’t served in the courts in the Chauvin trial, Waters replied, “We need to stay on the street. And we need to get more active. We need to become more confrontational. They need to know that we are. mean it. ‘
In her comments to The Grio on Monday, she did not shrink from her comments and said she was “nonviolent”. She accused the Republicans of twisting her words and using them as an opportunity to raise money.
“Republicans jump at every word, every line and try to make it fit their message and their reason for denouncing and denying us, in fact calling us violent … every time they see an opportunity to make a Word, so they do it and they send a message to all the white supremacists, the KKK, the Oath Keepers, the [Proud] Guys and all that, what is this time for [Republicans] to collect money [Democrats] backs, ”Waters said to The Grio.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also defended Waters’s comments, stating that Waters had “talked about confrontation in the way of the civil rights movement,” saying, “No, I don’t think she should apologize.”
Chauvin’s attorney, Eric Nelson, filed for a mistrial over Waters’s comments, a petition that was denied by Judge Peter Cahill. But he said to Nelson, “I will tell you that on appeal, Congressman Waters may have given you something that could result in this whole process being destroyed,” and he said, “I wish elected officials would stop talking about this. matter, especially in a way that is disrespectful to the rule of law. ”
Republicans have accused Waters of fueling tensions.
“This weekend in Minnesota, Maxine Waters broke the law by violating curfew and then inciting violence,” McCarthy tweeted Monday night. Speaker Pelosi is ignoring Waters’s behavior – so I am filing a resolution to denounce Rep. Waters to disapprove for these dangerous remarks. ‘
Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said she would file a resolution to kick Waters out of the House, a highly unlikely scenario.
The jury in Chauvin’s trial is currently deliberating.
Waters has served as a member of Congress since 1991 and is the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.
Nikole Killion and Rebecca Kaplan contributed to this report.