Will Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Pardon George Floyd?

Social Justice

By Alyssa Wilson Published: December 22, 2021

Will Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Pardon George Floyd?

FILE - In this June 25, 2020 file photo, Carter Sims, 3, of Pine Island, Minn., runs past a mural at the George Floyd memorial outside Cup Foods in Minneapolis. A stretch of a Minneapolis street that includes the place where Floyd was killed will soon be named in his honor. The City Council approved the naming Friday, Sept. 18, and Mayor Jacob Frey’s office said he would likely sign off on it as well. (Leila Navidi/Star Tribune via AP, File)

In Summary

After a Texas board unanimously recommended George Floyd be granted a pardon for a 2004 drug conviction, all eyes are on Gov. Greg Abbott to see if he will grant the pardon.

For Texas Governor Greg Abbott, handing out pardons for minor offenses is somewhat of a Christmas tradition, but many are waiting to see if he will offer a posthumous pardon to George Floyd.

PREVIOUS: Texas Board Recommending Posthumous Pardon for George Floyd

In October, the Texas State Board of Pardons and Paroles recommended a posthumous pardon for Floyd relating to a Feb. 2004 drug conviction. Floyd’s living family members filed an application for the pardon in April.

Allison Mathis, from the Harris County Public Defender’s Office, noted that the arresting officer in Floyd’s case, Greg Goines, “manufactured the existence of confidential informants to bolster his cases against innocent defendants,” CNN reported.

Goines was involved in a deadly police raid that resulted in the deaths of a husband and wife. Prosecutors began investigating his practices and later dismissed more than 160 drug convictions tied to Goines, according to The Guardian.

STATEMENT FROM DISTRICT ATTORNEY KIM OGG ON CLEMENCY FOR GEORGE FLOYDhttps://t.co/aesOpDNJK3
— Harris County DA (@HarrisCountyDAO) October 4, 2021

Harris County district attorney Kim Ogg released the following statement in October when the pardon was recommended:

“We lament the loss of former Houstonian George Floyd and hope that his family finds comfort in Monday’s decision by the Texas State Board of Pardons and Paroles to recommend clemency for a 2004 conviction involving former Houston Police Department Officer Gerald Goines.”

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin murdered Floyd in May 2020. The video of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck gained national attention and sparked a new call for police reform. Chauvin was convicted and sentenced to 22.5 years in prison earlier this year. On Dec. 15, 2021, Chauvin pled guilty to violating Floyd’s civil rights in federal court, BNC previously reported.

According to The Guardian, Abbott has not hinted at whether or not he will grant the pardon to Floyd. If granted, Floyd’s posthumous pardon will only be the second granted in the state’s history.

Last year, Abbott pardoned seven people ahead of Christmas for various crimes, including prostitution, drug possession, driving while intoxicated, assault, credit card abuse, burglary and criminal mischief.

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