2 former Minneapolis police officers charged in George Floyd's killing reject plea deals
CBSDec 23, 2022
The Facts
On Wednesday, former Minneapolis police officer Thomas Lane was sentenced to three years as part of a plea deal for his involvement in the killing of George Floyd in 2020.
Lane, who is already serving a 2.5-year federal sentence on charges of violating Floyd's civil rights, pleaded guilty in June to aiding and abetting the second-degree manslaughter of Floyd.
The Spin
Left narrative
Despite playing an active role in Floyd's death, Lane is getting away largely unscathed: this sentencing is nothing more than a slap on the wrist and is a step back in the fight against the police violence that has fueled racial unrest.
Right narrative
While Lane certainly played a role on that tragic day, he's not the monster some accuse him of being. He was a rookie who tried to take charge in a crisis but was dismissed by his superior, Chauvin. Now he's paying the price for someone else's actions.