The White House said President Biden spoke with Tyre Nichols’ mother and stepfather Friday afternoon.
The call took place hours before Memphis officials expected it Police body camera video release The violent arrest that led to the death of the black man.
The White House said that during the call with Rovon Wells and Rodney Wells, Mr. Biden offered his condolences and from the first lady.
“During the conversation, the president praised the family’s courage and strength,” a statement said.
As the president was leaving the White House for Camp David on Friday night, he told reporters he would urge Congress to pass reforms to the federal police known as Justice for George Floyd in the Police Act. Mr. Biden is expected to deliver State of the Union cast before Congress next month.
We have to get this under control, Mr. Biden said.
The president said he spoke with RowVaughn Wells for 10 to 15 minutes, and was pleased with her call that any protests sparked by the release of the police footage be peaceful.
“She’s clearly in a lot of pain,” Biden said. “… I told her I had an idea of what that loss was like, and that though it was impossible to believe now, the time would come when his memory would bring a smile before a tear.”
Biden’s first wife and their daughter died in a car accident in 1972, and his son, Beau Biden, died of brain cancer in 2015.
Earlier on Friday, White House press secretary Karen Jean-Pierre said Biden had been shown the video, but not seen it. Nichols’ family and authorities described the incident as a brutal confrontation, and five fired Memphis police officers were charged with second-degree murder in the case.
At the Justice Department, FBI Director Christopher Wray told reporters that he had seen the footage.
“What happened in Memphis is clearly tragic,” Ray said. “I watched the video myself, and I’ll tell you, I was freaked out. I’m struggling to find a stronger word, but I’ll just tell you freaked out.”
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