Federal trial begins for cops that were with Derek Chauvin when he killed George Floyd

The 3 men named in the death of George Floyd go on trial in federal court today in the city of St. Paul, MN. J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao are charged with deprivation of rights under color of law for allegedly failing to give Floyd medical aid. on the scene of his death in 2020. Thao and Lane are also charged for not intervening on Chauvin's excessive use of force as they watched him rest his knee on Floyd's neck, the action that killed him.

All three of the former Minneapolis police officers entered not guilty pleas. In December at his sentencing hearing Chauvin entered a guilty plea in a plea deal to aiming to avoid the federal trial and seek a lesser sentence.

The men will face what appears to be predominantly white jury of 7 women and five men -- a total of 12 -- were dwindled down form 40 initial panelist, as opening statements get underway today. One potential juror, presumably Black, said their race may cause bias. The judge said race has "absolutely nothing" to do with this trial. Thao is Hmong American, Lane is White and Keung is Black.