Don Lemon Pleads Not Guilty In Minnesota Church Protest Case
Don Lemon and others pleaded not guilty after a Jan. 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul; nine people were charged under the 1994 FACE Act and defense seeks grand jury transcripts.
Overview
Former CNN host Don Lemon pleaded not guilty Friday to federal civil rights charges in St. Paul and four co-defendants also pleaded not guilty, court records show.
The charges arise from a Jan. 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul that interrupted a service and targeted Pastor David Easterwood, who led the local ICE office.
Lemon said he was at the church to chronicle the protest and vowed to fight what he called 'baseless charges,' while Nekima Levy Armstrong echoed calls to defend First Amendment rights.
Nine people have been charged under the 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act in connection with the protest, and penalties can range up to a year in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
Defense lawyers filed a motion seeking grand jury transcripts and the return of Lemon’s seized cellphone, and prosecutors said they will oppose the motion; two more defendants face arraignment next week.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the coverage as raising constitutional and press‑freedom concerns, emphasizing defense and civil‑rights perspectives while foregrounding First Amendment language, procedural irregularities, and violent federal enforcement context. They privilege quoted defenses, NABJ and legal experts who question the indictment’s legitimacy, with limited prosecutorial detail beyond the phone seizure and Bondi’s statement.
Sources (22)
FAQ
Don Lemon faces federal charges of conspiracy against rights of religious freedom and attempt to injure while exercising religious freedom, under the 1994 FACE Act.[1]
Protesters entered Cities Church in St. Paul, disrupted the service by occupying aisles and seats, chanted 'Justice for Renee Good' and 'ICE out,' targeting Pastor David Easterwood for his ICE role; Lemon allegedly obstructed congregants.[1]
Other defendants include Nekima Levy Armstrong, Chauntyll Allen, William Kelly, Ian Davis Austin, Jerome Deangelo Richardson, and Georgia Fort; nine people total charged.[1]
Penalties can include up to one year in prison and fines up to $10,000 for interfering with religious freedom at a place of worship.[3]
Defense seeks grand jury transcripts and return of Lemon’s seized cellphone; prosecutors oppose the motion and state the phone is under DHS custody with a sealed search warrant.
History
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