Attorneys for former Minneapolis officers Thao and Lane ask judge to hold AG Ellison in contempt of court

The attorneys for former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd filed motions Tuesday asking a judge to hold Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and the Attorney General’s Deputy Chief of Staff in contempt of court.

The attorneys for Tou Thao and Thomas Lane filed motions asking the court to hold Ellison and Deputy Chief of Staff John Stiles, to be held in contempt for violating a gag order issued on July 9.

Judge: Attorneys for former officers charged in Floyd death not to discuss case with media, public

The motion also requests sanctions be ordered against Ellison for violating the order.

Lane’s motion specifies that the request is in relation to an email sent to media outlets by Ellison and John Stiles. The email informed the media about four attorneys who were added to the prosecution on a pro bono basis. The motion states that "The email is an obvious violation of the Gag Order. Ellison should be jailed along with Stiles. There is no reason to announce that these so-called “superstars” are joining the prosecution and that they’re doing it for free. It is an obvious statement to the public that these “superstars” believe that our clients are guilty."

Attorneys for former Minneapolis officers in George Floyd case file objections to gag order

The four former officers Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, J Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao filed objections to the gag order on Monday.

Chauvin is charged with unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s death. Thao, Lane and Kueng are charged with aiding and abetting unintentional second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.