U.S. President Donald Trump has granted unconditional pardons to two police officers involved in the death of a Black man, George Floyd. The order was issued on Wednesday, January 22.

The two officers who received the pardon are Washington D.C. Police Lieutenant Andrew Jabavski and Officer Terrence Sutton.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Officer Terrence Sutton Jr. was sentenced to 66 months in prison, while Andrew Jabavski received a 48-month sentence in September 2024. They were charged with pursuing an individual without authorization on October 23, 2020. During the chase, a 20-year-old Black man, Khuaron Hilton-Brown, died in a collision while trying to escape in Northwest Washington. The Metropolitan Police Department reported that both officers were suspended without pay indefinitely following the incident.

After a nine-week trial in 2022, Sutton was unanimously found guilty by a federal jury of second-degree murder, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice. The same jury convicted Jabavski of conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

Jabavski's attorney, Christopher Zampogna, expressed gratitude to Trump for the pardon, stating, "We are grateful to President Trump for granting clemency." Sutton told CNN that he was "overwhelmed" and thanked the President, saying, "I want to return to the police department and finish my career."

Sutton's attorney, Kelen Dwyer, released a statement expressing confidence that the D.C. Circuit Court would overturn the ruling. However, he added that they were pleased that President Trump has brought a final resolution to the case.

The pardons have sparked discussions about police accountability and the implications of such decisions on public trust in law enforcement. The incident that led to the convictions has been a focal point in ongoing debates about police practices and systemic racism in the United States.

As the nation continues to grapple with issues of race and justice, the pardoning of these officers raises questions about the balance between law enforcement support and accountability for actions that result in loss of life.