Elon Musk Renews Call For Derek Chauvin’s Release

BreakingBusinessElon Musk Renews Call For Derek Chauvin’s ReleaseBySara Dorn,Forbes Staff. Sara Dorn is a Forbes news reporter who covers politics.Follow AuthorAug 19, 2026, 04:00pm EDTToplineBillionaire Elon Musk called for Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, to be freed on Wednesday, reprising his push for Chauvin’s conviction to be overturned in his latest reversal of his previously more liberal-leaning politics. In this handout provided by Ramsey County Sheriff's Office, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin poses for a mugshot after being charged in the death of George Floyd. (Photo by Ramsey County Sheriff's Office via Getty Images)Getty ImagesKey FactsMusk wrote on X Wednesday that “Derek Chauvin was unjustly convicted of murder, therefore he should be freed,” and retweeted others who spoke out against Chauvin’s conviction.Musk made the statements after Chauvin on Tuesday again filed a petition to vacate his murder conviction, alleging new procedural failures related to his trial. Other prominent right-wing figures applauded Musk, with right-wing activist Jack Posobiec replying, “it’s time for truth to prevail,” while Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, posted a bullseye emoji in response. Last year, Musk advocated for President Donald Trump to consider pardoning Chauvin, marking a reversal from his stance in the wake of Floyd’s 2020 death, when he wrote on X, “definitely not right that the other officers were charged with nothing. What message does this send in general to officers who stand by while another does wrong? #JusticeForGeorge” if (!window.cnxel) { window.cnxel = {}; window.cnxel.cmd = []; var iframe = document.createElement('iframe'); iframe.style.display = 'none'; iframe.onload = function() { var iframeDoc = iframe.contentWindow.document; var script = iframeDoc.createElement('script'); script.src = '//cd.elements.video/player.js?cid=62cec241-7d09-4462-afc2-f72f8d8ef40a'; script.setAttri...