A federal judge has blocked the U.S. Justice Department from charging Don Lemon after he appeared alongside anti-ICE protesters inside a Minnesota church over the weekend.
The Minnesota magistrate judge refused to sign an order approving charges against Lemon, CBS Minneapolis reported on Thursday, Jan. 22.
The DOJ had vowed to pursue charges against the former CNN anchor for entering the church during the protest, and reporting live on his YouTube channel.
Following the judge’s decision, Lemon released a statement through his attorney saying the DOJ is trying to “silence and punish” a working journalist.
“The magistrate’s reported actions confirm the nature of Don’s First Amendment protected work this weekend in Minnesota as a reporter,” wrote attorney Abbe Lowell. “It was no different than what he has done for 30 years, reporting, covering newsworthy events on the ground and engaging in constitutionally protected activity as a journalist.”
Protesters targeted the St. Paul church on Jan. 18 because pastor David Easterwood is said to be acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Saint Paul Field Office.
According to published reports, Attorney General Pam Bondi traveled to Minnesota to push for charges against the protesters.
Bondi criticized the demonstration in a string of tweets she posted to the X platform on Thursday afternoon.
“Our nation was settled and founded by people fleeing religious persecution. Religious freedom is the bedrock of this country,” Bondi wrote. “We will protect our pastors. We will protect our churches. We will protect Americans of faith.
She added that some of the protesters who entered the church have now been taken into custody, “at my direction.”
Sources told CBS Minnesota the case against Lemon may not be over yet, because the DOJ could find “other avenues” to charge him.
Lemon’s attorney fired back and said the longtime journalist would “vigorously” fight any efforts to prosecute his client.
“Should the Department of Justice continue with a stunning and troubling effort to silence and punish a journalist for doing his job, Don will call out their latest attack on the rule of law and fight any charges vigorously and thoroughly in court,” Lowell said.
Discover more from Urban Hollywood 411
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
