In strong comments during the closing arguments in the Derek Chauvin trial on Monday, Judge Peter Cahill rebuked radical Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA) for calling on Black Lives Matter to be more violent if the jury returned a not guilty verdict. And like clockwork, the CBS Evening News framed Judge Cahill as the problem, even the aggressor by claiming he was “lashing out” at Waters and perhaps working with the defense team.
Following a segment on the trial’s closing arguments in general, CBS anchor Norah O’Donnell stepped in to defend the radical Congresswoman. “And Jamie, something extraordinary happened after the jury left to deliberate. The judge lashing out at a U.S. congresswoman. Even mentioning the possibility, a verdict could be overturned in the future,” she teed up correspondent Jamie Yuccas.
Yuccas’ first move was to downplay and brush over what Waters said to the BLM mob. “Wow, it was something. California Democrat Maxine Waters was with protesters in Brooklyn Center this weekend and she said ‘I hope we get a verdict that's guilty, guilty, guilty. If we don't, we have to get more confrontational,’” she said.
From there, Yuccas seemed to suggest that Judge Cahill was working with Chauvin’s defense team because he “openly told the defense the comments could open the door to an appeal if Derek Chauvin is convicted and then have the whole trial overturned.”
Her claim that the Judge’s comments on a possible appeal were “surprising” was misleading. And he wasn’t working with the defense either, he was stating the fact that Waters’ comments could be seen as jury intimidation: find him guilty or they burn down Minneapolis.
But while CBS was busy suggesting Judge Cahill was the problem, all he said was that politicians needed the respect the rule of law and the co-equal judicial branch of government.
“I wish elected officials would stop talking about this case especially in a manner that it is disrespectful to the rule of law and the judicial branch in our function,” he said to the courtroom. “I think if they want to give their opinions, they should do so in a respectful and in a manner that is consistent with their oath to the Constitution to respect the co-equal branch of government.”
He added: “Their failure to do so, I think, is abhorrent, but I don't think it is prejudiced with additional material that would prejudice the story.”
How was that controversial in any way?
In a bit of a contrast, on NBC Nightly News, correspondent Gabe Gutierrez gave a very quick rundown of the situation without attacking the Judge:
Over the weekend, Congresswoman Maxine Waters of California said that protesters need to get “more confrontational” if there was a not guilty verdict. The judge today said that “disrespectful” comments from elected officials were “abhorrent.”
On the other hand, ABC’s World News Tonight completely obfuscated Waters’ call for violence by not mentioning it at all.
This defense of Congresswoman Waters’ call for violence from Black lives Matter was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Norton Antivirus and Prevagen. Their contact information is linked so you can tell them about the biased news they fund. CBS Evening News has also asked people to “text Norah” at this number: (202) 217-1107.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
CBS Evening News
April 19, 2021
6:36:14 p.m. Eastern(…)
NORAH O’DONNELL: And Jamie, something extraordinary happened after the jury left to deliberate. The judge lashing out at a U.S. congresswoman. Even mentioning the possibility, a verdict could be overturned in the future. Explain what happened.
JAMIE YUCCAS: Wow, it was something. California Democrat Maxine Waters was with protesters in Brooklyn Center this weekend and she said “I hope we get a verdict that's guilty, guilty, guilty. If we don't, we have to get more confrontational.” The judge called that disrespectful to the rule of law, and in a surprising move openly told the defense the comments could open the door to an appeal if Dereck Chauvin is convicted and then have the whole trial overturned. Norah.
O’DONNELL: Just stunning.
Fox News Channel’s The Five
April 19, 2021
5:09:41 p.m. Eastern(…)
JUDGE PETER CAHILL (Hennepin County): I'm aware of the media reports. I'm aware that Congresswoman Waters was talking specifically about this trial and about the unacceptability of anything less than a murder conviction, and talk about being confrontational. But you can submit the press articles about that.
This goes back to what I have been saying from the beginning, I wish elected officials would stop talking about this case especially in a manner that it is disrespectful to the rule of law and the judicial branch in our function.
I think if they want to give their opinions, they should do so in a respectful and in a manner that is consistent with their oath to the Constitution to respect the co-equal branch of government. Their failure to do so, I think, is abhorrent, but I don't think it is prejudiced with additional material that would prejudice the story.
They have been told not to watch the news, I trust they are following those instructions and that there is not, in any way, a prejudice to the event beyond the articles that we are talking specifically about the facts of this case.
A congresswoman's opinion really doesn't matter a whole lot. Anyway. So, the motion for mistrial is denied.
(…)
NBC Nightly News
April 19, 2021
7:05:27 p.m. Eastern(…)
LESTER HOLT: Gabe, after the jury left today, the judge also said the defense might have grounds for appeal because of what a congresswoman said. What do we know about that?
GABE GUTIERREZ: Yeah, that's right, Lester. Over the weekend, Congresswoman Maxine Waters of California said that protesters need to get “more confrontational” if there was a not guilty verdict. The judge today said that “disrespectful” comments from elected officials were “abhorrent.” Meanwhile, there are more demonstrators here tonight outside of the courthouse, Lester.
