Former Obama Cabinet Member Accuses Greg Abbott of ‘Cowardice’ After Parole Board Withdraws George Floyd Posthumous Pardon Recommendation

It was reported today that the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has withdrawn its recommendation to GOP Gov. Greg Abbott for a posthumous pardon of George Floyd, the Houston man who died while being subdued by Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, in May of 2020.

The Texas parole board, in a what the Texas Tribune described as a surprising unanimous decision, had recommended in October that Floyd be pardoned for a minor 2004 drug conviction in Houston.

The decision was announced by the governor’s office, along with the board’s reversal on 24 other clemency suggestions due to what it described as procedural errors and a lack of compliance with board rules.

Abbott press secretary Renae Eze said in a statement, “The Board will review and resolve procedural errors and issues related to any pending applications in compliance with their rules.”

The statement appeared to leave the door open to Floyd receiving a pardon at a later date, adding, “As a result of the Board’s withdrawal of the recommendation concerning George Floyd, Governor Abbott did not have the opportunity to consider it. Governor Abbott will review all recommendations that the Board submits for consideration.”

Former Obama cabinet member Julián Castro and Texas native accused Abbott of “cowardice” over the decision, accusing him of punting the decision due to a technicality.

Castro lamented, “Classic Greg Abbott. He didn’t have the guts to grant George Floyd a posthumous pardon, nor the guts to reject it.”

“So he got the pardon/parole board to withdraw their recommendation. Magic! Abbott never got to consider it. And he won’t till after the TX GOP primary. Cowardice,” Castro added.

Classic Greg Abbott. He didn’t have the guts to grant George Floyd a posthumous pardon, nor the guts to reject it. So he got the pardon/parole board to withdraw their recommendation. Magic! Abbott never got to consider it. And he won’t till after the TX GOP primary.

Cowardice. https://t.co/PEGwyBmN6H

— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) December 23, 2021

Houston public defender Allison Mathis, who had put the request before the parole board in May was also “furious” by the decision.

Mathis accused Abbott of playing politics and said the request had already been through a compliance review and none of the seven appointed board members had raised an issue with it.

“It definitely seems like is that he didn’t want to have to vote on this, for whatever reason. It just seems awfully convenient,” Mathis declared.

Days after the board made the recommendation, Abbott briefly told reporters at an unrelated event that his office would analyze Floyd’s case, although he hadn’t commented on it since.