Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, 3 other attorneys disqualified from George Floyd case

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill disqualified Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman and three other attorneys in his office from participating in the George Floyd case at a motions hearing Friday. 

Cahill barred Freeman, Senior Hennepin County Attorney Amy Sweasy, Assistant Hennepin County Attorney Patrick Lofton and Deputy Hennepin County Attorney Andy LeFevour from participating in the prosecution of the case for what he described as “sloppy” work while interviewing a witness, Hennepin County Medical Examiner Dr. Andrew Baker, prior to filing murder charges. Baker performed Floyd’s autopsy.

Other attorneys and staff from the county attorney's office can still participate in the prosecution of the four former Minneapolis police officers involved in Floyd’s death. 

The prosecution asked the judge to consider his order barring the four attorneys from the case. 

“Any suggestion by Judge Cahill that the work of Sweasy and Lofton was sloppy is incorrect,” The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office said in a statement. “The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office fully stands by the work, dedication and commitment of two of the state’s best prosecutors.”

The county attorney’s office says the meeting with the medical examiner was “completely routine” and they are confident the judge’s order will “eventually be withdrawn or modified.” 

Cahill granted the reconsideration motion. No dates for the motion have been set.