Marjorie Taylor Greene Links Derek Chauvin Verdict to Maxine Waters' 'Threats'

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has linked "Maxine Waters threats"—comments by the Democratic congresswoman urging protesters to become "more active, more confrontational" if Derek Chauvin were acquitted of the murder of George Floyd—to the outcome of the trial.

"BLM has now proven itself to be the most powerful domestic terrorists [sic] organization in our country. After Maxine Waters threats could there have been any other verdict?" the Georgia Republican posted on Twitter after Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, was convicted.

In another tweet that evening, Greene posted: "DC is completely dead tonight. People stayed in and were scared to go out because of fear of riots. Police are everywhere and have riot gear. #BLM is the strongest terrorist threat in our county."

Greene was referring to Rep. Waters' comments on Saturday at a protest over the death in custody of another Black man: Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old who was fatally shot by a white police officer during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, a suburb of Minneapolis.

Waters, who represents California's 43rd congressional district, called for a more confrontational approach against the U.S. legal system's treatment of Black people if Chauvin were acquitted.

The congresswoman, 82, later explained her remarks in an interview with The Grio published on Monday. "I am non-violent [...] I talk about confronting the justice system, confronting the policing that's going on, I'm talking about speaking up. I'm talking about legislation," she said.

Republicans criticized the "confrontational" comments, accusing Waters of inciting violence. The GOP moved on Tuesday to censure her in Congress, but House Democrats blocked the resolution. Rep. Greene said on April 18 she would introduce a resolution to expel Waters.

Rep. Lauren Boebert, a conservative Republican from Colorado, also criticized Waters' comments at the Wright protest, accusing her of "traveling to a different state trying to incite a riot."

Rep. Lee Zeldin, a New York Republican and Donald Trump ally, called for her to be removed from Congress.

In a party-line vote held on Tuesday, shortly before the Chauvin verdict was announced, the Democrats defeated the censure resolution 216-210.

Chauvin was found guilty of murdering Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25 last year after kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes. In video footage, Floyd can be heard repeating, "I can't breathe," as Chauvin keeps his weight on him.

The former police officer was convicted of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Floyd's team welcomed the verdict, describing it as "painfully earned justice," and called for police reforms.