EXCLUSIVE: Former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin speaks out ahead of attacker’s trial
“It's really a day-by-day, hour-by-hour process to survive nowadays,” Chauvin told Alpha News from a federal prison in Texas.
The inmate charged with attempting to kill Derek Chauvin is now expected to go on trial at the end of the month, more than a year after the brutal attack.
Alpha News has learned that Chauvin’s attacker, John Turscak, 53, is no longer in the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons as he awaits trial.
“John Turscak is not currently in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP). There are several reasons why an individual may be referenced as ‘not in BOP custody’ when using the ‘Find an Inmate’ feature on our public website,” spokesperson Benjamin O’Cone told Alpha News.
“Incarcerated individuals who were previously in FBOP custody and who have not completed their sentence may be outside FBOP custody for a period of time for court hearings, medical treatment, or other reasons. We do not provide specific information on the status of individuals who are not in the custody of the FBOP for safety, security, or privacy reasons.”
Turscak has been charged with attempted murder, assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. His trial is currently scheduled to begin on Nov. 26, but the trial has been postponed three times in the past.
Before the attack, Turscak, a former FBI informant, was scheduled to be released in 2026.
On Nov. 24, 2023, Derek Chauvin was stabbed 22 times in a Tucson medium-security prison. The attack occurred eight days after Alpha News released its documentary, “The Fall of Minneapolis.”
Chauvin has since been transferred twice and is currently being held at a federal prison in Texas.
In a phone interview with Alpha News reporter Liz Collin, Chauvin spoke out for the first time since he was stabbed. The interview with Chauvin was conducted before the presidential election earlier this month, which saw Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, lose to President-elect Donald Trump.
The following is a transcript of the conversation, lightly edited for clarity:
Liz Collin (LC): Derek, you’ve been moved to your third federal facility. How are you getting through every day?
Derek Chauvin (DC): It’s not easy. When I was in the former facility in Arizona, at least I had somewhat of a routine as far as having some type of job there—doing some exercise and typically in the evening, trying to maintain myself and attending a church service on Sunday afternoon, as well as reading books and other things that are there to try to improve oneself. But, after last November, things were even more difficult. It’s really a day-by-day, hour-by-hour, process to survive nowadays.
LC: Do you think about why someone would want to kill you?
DC: I’m sure there’s speculation out there as to why. I’d like to know the answer myself. I do not at this time. There may be some information in the future on the subject, but I don’t know.
LC: Since your stabbing Derek, it seems that you’ve been treated even worse than the man who tried to kill you. How much has your life changed in prison since then?
DC: Even day-to-day physical abilities, I would previously go outside as a form of exercise and, nowadays, that’s off the table because of the nature of the injury. My balance is off. I have permanent nerve damage. There was supposed to be some follow up or medical attention from the previous facility that never materialized, and I inquired here about that and was told there’s not.
LC: I’m sure you know that Gov. Walz was tapped as the running mate for Kamala Harris. He’s one of the first to basically call you a murderer in press conferences shortly after the death of George Floyd. What do you think about Walz and his role in your case?
DC: He was a politician first and foremost. He wouldn’t say anything that isn’t good for his political party or voting base. The last time I checked, we still should have the rule of law in this country, which we don’t have any longer. I see him just saying the same stuff without having any of the facts, before the trial even started. So the fact that things happened here in this country, and in particular in the state of Minnesota, in an election year, and then obviously with the virus that was taking place at the time, it’s just kind of a big mix of stuff to distract.
LC: I know you’re working on another appeal. What’s your goal?
DC: I think the ultimate goal is to be able to illustrate what actually was done [regarding the maximal restraint technique] and what it actually can do and can’t do, so the three officers and myself, leave these kinds of places (prison), posthaste.
LC: Another thing people have often asked and as a reporter, it’s something I have to ask you. Did you murder George Floyd? Did you intend to kill him?
DC: No. No, I did not. And we did not.
LC: It sounds like you’re still trying to get your side of the story out there and you’re not giving up the fight to get out.
DC: No, no, I’m not.
Original article courtesy of Alpha News, November 20, 2024.