Don Lemon Defies DOJ After Magistrate Declines Charges

A federal magistrate judge in Minnesota declined prosecutors' request to charge Don Lemon over his presence at Cities Church in St. Paul, according to court records.

The Justice Department says it is exploring other avenues to bring charges under the FACE Act after protesters chanted "ICE out" following the fatal shooting of Renee Good, officials said.

Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for civil rights, said in an interview that the DOJ is "going to the ends of the Earth" to press charges and that she sees predicates for FACE Act prosecution, officials said.

Federal authorities authorized arrests of three activists tied to the protest, including civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong and protester William Kelly, on conspiracy and FACE Act-related charges, records show.

Abbe Lowell, Don Lemon's attorney, said Lemon acted as a reporter and will fight any renewed prosecution vigorously, while U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said press protections do not extend to embedding with a group that storms a church, reflecting conflicting accounts.