A Florida man has pleaded guilty to threatening to kill the defense attorney of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, federal prosecutors said.
William John Hartnett, 42, of Coral Gables, admitted Wednesday to calling the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association — which funded Chauvin’s defense in the May 2020 murder of George Floyd — and leaving a menacing 18-second voicemail on April 6 for defense attorney Eric Nelson.
“Hey you and your whole f–king family are going to f—king die, you motherf—er, for representing Chauvin, a f—king murderer,” Hartnett said on the call, federal prosecutors said Thursday.
“Now, you all are going to f—king die a worse death than Floyd, you motherf—-. All of you piece of sh—.”
Hartnett made the call from Miami as Chauvin’s trial was underway. Two weeks later, a jury convicted the former Minneapolis cop of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter — after he kneeled on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes on May 25, 2020.
Chauvin, 45, was sentenced to 22½ years in prison in June, but said last month he intends to appeal his conviction and sentence for Floyd’s murder, which led to worldwide protests against police brutality and racial injustice.
Chauvin was also charged in federal court with violating Floyd’s civil rights and has pleaded not guilty.
Hartnett pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting a threat through interstate communications. He faces a maximum of five years in prison when he’s due to be sentenced on Dec. 15.
Hartnett’s attorney did not return a message seeking comment late Thursday, NBC News reported.