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Mother Pleads For A Lenient Sentence For Chauvin: 'My Son Is A Good Man'

Carolyn Pawlenty, the mother of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, speaks in court Friday on her son's behalf. She asked Judge Peter Cahill to be lenient in sentencing her son.
Court TV via AP/Pool
Carolyn Pawlenty, the mother of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, speaks in court Friday on her son's behalf. She asked Judge Peter Cahill to be lenient in sentencing her son.

Updated June 25, 2021 at 3:46 PM ET

Derek Chauvin's mother told a Minneapolis judge that the former police officer has a big heart, and she opposed a lengthy sentence for her son, who was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of George Floyd last year.

Carolyn Pawlenty said Chauvin's selfless character has been twisted by the media into an unfair depiction.

"My son's identity has also been reduced to that of a racist, " Pawlenty said. "I want this court to know that none of these things are true and that my son is a good man."

She said that the public "will never know the loving and caring man he is" and that she has always supported her son 100%.

Addressing her son, who was sitting nearby at Friday's sentencing hearing, "I have always believed in your innocence, and I'll never waver from that."

She pleaded with Judge Peter Cahill for leniency.

"When you sentence him, you will also be sentencing me," she said. "I won't be able to see him or give him our special hug. When he is released, his father and I most likely won't be here."

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The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.