Derek Chauvin Trial Judge Slams 'Abhorrent' Rep. Maxine Waters for Calling for Riots if No Conviction

The judge overseeing the murder case against former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd on Monday slammed Representative Maxine Waters for giving comments that could lead to an appeal in the event of a conviction and overturned.

Waters' comments came as the jury for the Derek Chauvin trial case begins their deliberation, New York Post reported.

The California representative urged the protesters to "stay on the street" and "get more confrontational" if the defendant was found not guilty in the death of George Floyd.

Maxine Waters gave her comments while in a crowd of protesters in Brooklyn Center on Sunday, in light of the fatal police shooting of Daunte Wright.

Chauvin Trial Judge on Maxine Waters

Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill emphasized that it was abhorrent of Waters to tell those comments in front of the protesters, Reuters reported.

Waters reportedly said to the demonstrators that she hoped to get a verdict that "says, guilty, guilty, guilty." And if the opposite happens, she told protesters "to stay on the street" and "get more active."

"We've got to get more confrontational. We've got to make sure that they know that we mean business," Waters added.

Cahill was not impressed by the comments that the representative had given, hoping that elected officials would stop talking about the Derek Chauvin trial, "especially in the manner that's disrespectful to the rule of law and the judicial branch and their function."

Cahill's comments came after Derek Chauvin's defense lawyer requested a mistrial, arguing that Waters' comments had tarnished the proceeding.

Defense Attorney Eric Nelson said that the statements made by the elected official could reasonably be interpreted as threats against the "sanctity of the jury process." Nelson added that it had the effect of "threatening and intimidating the jury."

"I don't know if this particular representative made a specified threat of violence," Prosecutor Matthew Frank told Cahill, emphasizing that the vague allegations of Waters could not "muddy" the record without specific evidence offered in the court, USA Today reported.

Frank noted that Waters' statements should not be allowed to become part of the court record. But Cahill allowed the defense to supplement the record with news articles about the lawmaker's comments.

Cahill said he was aware that Waters talked about the Derek Chauvin trial and the "unacceptability of anything less than a murder conviction."

However, Cahill noted that although Waters may have given the defense something on appeal that may result in this whole trial being overturned, "a Congresswoman's opinion really doesn't matter a whole lot."

Views on Maxine Water's Comments

Apart from Cahill blasting Maxine Waters for her comments, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy led an effort to condemn the California representative formally.

Republicans criticized Waters' rhetoric, accusing the representative of inciting violence. In a tweet, McCarthy announced his plans to introduce a resolution formally condemning her words. McCarthy noted that Maxine Waters broke the law by "violating the curfew and then incited violence."

McCarthy added that what drove him to introduce censorship for the representative is because House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ignores Water's behavior.

Pelosi has defended Maxine Waters, arguing that the representative talked about "confrontation in the manner of civil rights movement," and for that, Waters do not need to apologize.

Derek Chauvin, who is white, was accused of killing George Floyd as he pushed his knee into the neck of the 46-year-old handcuffed Black man for more than nine minutes in May 2020. George Floyd's death sparked protests around the world over police brutality.

WATCH: Judge Slams Maxine Water's Remarks on Chauvin Trial - From Wahington Post