By Elise Hammond, Aditi Sangal, Maureen Chowdhury and Adrienne Vogt, CNN
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin appeared in a federal court today and was sentenced by senior US District Court Judge Paul Magnuson to 21 years in federal prison for depriving George Floyd of his civil rights.
Floyd's brother Philonise Floyd spoke in court, asking that Chauvin face the maximum consecutive sentence. “George’s life matters," he said.
There were no cameras allowed in the federal courtroom, but here's what the hearing looked like, according to a sketch artist:
After former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison for violating George Floyd's civil rights, Floyd's brother Philonise Floyd said the biggest question he has for Chauvin is "why?"
Philonise Floyd hasn't said anything to Chauvin, he said during a news conference on Thursday in Minneapolis.
"I’m looking for closure, and I want to know why," Floyd said.
Floyd said he wishes Chauvin would've at least said apologized for his actions, "but that's not going to bring my brother back."
Chauvin probably doesn't even have a specific reason for his actions, Floyd said.
"I do think he knew what he was doing and he did it on purpose," Floyd added.
From CNN's Paul Vercammen and Steve Almasy
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison for violating George Floyd's civil rights.
Senior US District Court Judge Paul Magnuson sentenced Chauvin to 252 months but subtracted seven months for time served, and he will serve 245 months in federal prison.
Chauvin is already behind bars on state murder charges for his role in Floyd's death. In that state case, he was sentenced in June 2021 to more than 22 years in prison on charges of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for his role in Floyd's death. He has appealed his conviction.
US attorneys had asked the court for Chauvin's sentence to run concurrently with his state sentence.
As part of an agreement with prosecutors, Chauvin pleaded guilty in December to federal charges of depriving Floyd of his civil rights. He could have faced up to life in prison if he had been convicted at trial.
Prosecutors had asked for a 25-year sentence in prison for violating Floyd's civil rights, followed by five years of supervised release. His attorney had asked for 20 years.
The US Bureau of Prisons will decide what facility Chauvin will be housed in.
Sarah Greenman, an assistant criminology professor at Hamline University, said life in federal prison is considered to be better than at state facilities.
From CNN's Paul Vercammen in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin will serve 245 months in prison for violating George Floyd’s civil rights.
A federal judge in Minneapolis sentenced Chauvin to 252 months but subtracted seven months for time served.
Chauvin pleaded guilty in December to federal charges of depriving Floyd of his civil rights when the former officer kneeled on Floyd's back and neck for more than nine minutes. As part of the plea agreement, Chauvin faced a sentence recommendation of between 20 and 25 years.
Chauvin, already jailed on state murder charges for his role in Floyd's death, was sentenced in June 2021 to 22 and a half years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
The disgraced former officer's plea bargain avoided a second federal trial and the possibility of life behind bars, if he had been convicted in US District Court.
Federal prosecutors asked the court for Chauvin’s sentence to run concurrently with his state charges.
From CNN's Paul Vercammen
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin briefly addressed George Floyd's children in court. In a short statement, Chauvin wished Floyd's children all the best in their life.
Chauvin is being sentenced on federal charges. Chauvin pleaded guilty in December to federal charges of depriving Floyd of his civil rights when the former officer kneeled on Floyd's back and neck for more than nine minutes.
From CNN's Paul Vercammen
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin's attorney Eric Nelson asked the court to sentence his client to 20 years in prison.
“I would ask the court to sentence Mr. Chauvin to the 240 months,” Nelson said.
Nelson said Chauvin has demonstrated respect for the court, adding that he is not a risk for a repeat offense nor will he be a police officer anymore.
From CNN's Paul Vercammen
Philonise Floyd, George Floyd's brother, gave an impassioned plea for Derek Chauvin to be given the maximum consecutive sentence during Chauvin's federal sentencing hearing.
“My brother was murdered in broad daylight with a knee to his neck for nine minutes," he said.
Speaking about Floyd's daughter, Philonise said, “He will never be able to walk her down the aisle, take her to a daddy daughter dance."
“George’s life matters," he said.
”The (Floyd) family and I have been given a life sentence, we will never get George back," he added.
From CNN's Steve Almasy
The federal sentencing hearing of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is starting now in a US District Court.
Last month, prosecutors asked that the federal judge in Minneapolis sentence Chauvin to 25 years in prison for violating George Floyd's civil rights, followed by five years of supervised release.
Chauvin was sentenced in June 2021 to 22-and-a-half years on state charges of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the May 2020 killing of Floyd, an assault caught on a video that sparked a national outcry over police brutality and a reckoning over racial justice in America.
Under Minnesota law, Chauvin will have to serve two-thirds of his sentence, or 15 years —and he will be eligible for supervised release for the remaining seven and a half years. He has appealed his conviction.
From CNN staff
Although former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has already been convicted in the murder of George Floyd, he's set to be sentenced today on separate federal charges.
Chauvin pleaded guilty in December to federal charges of depriving Floyd of his civil rights when the former officer kneeled on Floyd's back and neck for more than nine minutes. As part of the plea agreement, Chauvin faces a sentence recommendation of between 20 and 25 years. He could have faced up to life in prison if he had been convicted at trial.
Here's a reminder of the 2020 case that spurred widespread protests against police brutality and racism:
Read more about today's sentencing here.