Judge BLOCKS Trump’s attempt to charge Don Lemon for joining anti-ICE protesters as they stormed Minnesota church
A judge has blocked charges against journalist Don Lemon for his involvement in an anti-ICE protest inside a church in Minnesota.
The Department of Justice said it was pursuing charges against Lemon and dozens of anti-ICE protesters after they stormed a St Paul church on Sunday.
Lemon – a former CNN journalist – livestreamed the procession.
However, a federal magistrate judge has reportedly refused to sign a complaint that would charge Lemon.
Attorney General Pam Bondi is currently in Minnesota meeting with federal prosecutors.
‘The Attorney General is enraged at the magistrate judge’s decision,’ sources told CNN and CBS News.
Feds said the protest violated the FACE Act, a law that prohibits interference with those seeking religious services.
However, the judge refused to sign the DOJ’s complaint against Lemon on those grounds, sources said.
One insider warned that the litigation against Lemon is far from over, while speaking to CBS. They said the DOJ could find other ways to charge Lemon, but did not say how.
Don Lemon is seen speaking to a camera inside the church in Minnesota
The Justice Department previously said it would pursue charges against all who participated, with Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon singling out Lemon specifically
A separate source told the station that a magistrate judge approved charges for two other protesters – Chauntyll Louisa Allen, a member of the St Paul School Board, and Minneapolis lawyer Nekima Levy Armstrong.
Bondi claimed on X that Armstrong helped organize the protest.
Armstrong, 49, is being charged with a federal crime under 18 USC 241, a law that prohibits two or more people from conspiring to interfere with constitutionally protected rights, said Homeland Security head Kristi Noem on Thursday.
Allen, Armstrong, and Lemon and several others entered the church Sunday after they learned that one of the parish’s pastors leads the local field office for ICE.
The Twin Cities are currently at the center of a massive immigration crackdown.
The fatal shooting of 37-year-old protester Renee Good on January 7 by an ICE agent has fueled frustration already seen within the community.
Lemon, an independent journalist, stood in solidarity with the church protesters. The disruption prompted congregants to leave.
Lemon, meanwhile, interviewed the pastor, David Easterwood.
Local lawyer Nekima Levy Armstrong has been charged for her part in the procession
Chauntyll Louisa Allen was also taken into custody and charged, feds said
‘There’s a Constitution and a First Amendment, and freedom of speech and freedom to assemble and protest,’ Lemon insisted during the exchange.
He has since said that he had no idea about the protester’s plans until he was already inside the church,
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon, meanwhile, told podcaster Benny Johnson on Sunday that being a journalist ‘is not a badge or a shield that protects you from criminal consequences,’ while singling out Lemon specifically.
‘I think the videos show how close he was to these folks,’ she said.
‘I think further evidence will show more information about that. But he clearly knew and he stated before going into the facility, it’s on his own video, what was going to happen there,; she continued.
She later warned Lemon on X that he is ‘on notice’ for his involvement. During an interview with Glen Beck on Monday, she told Lemon to ‘lawyer up’.
Lemon maintains his participation in the protest was as a journalist and is protected by the First Amendment.
