Summary:
-
Federal Judge blocks DOJ from charging Don Lemon for covering church protest, citing First Amendment protection.
-
Attorney General Pam Bondi travels to Minnesota after Lemon’s dismissal, as legal fallout ensues for activists involved.
-
Nicki Minaj’s strategy draws attention to pastor’s alleged ICE ties but fails to secure legal consequences for Lemon.
Federal Magistrate Judge Doug Micko has officially blocked the Department of Justice from filing a criminal complaint against journalist Don Lemon regarding his coverage of a St. Paul church protest. The DOJ, citing the 1871 Klan Act, argued that Lemon participated in a conspiracy to intimidate the congregation, but the judge ruled his presence was protected journalism under the First Amendment. This dismissal reportedly enraged Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has now personally traveled to Minnesota to oversee the escalating situation.
While Lemon avoids prosecution, the legal fallout continues for the activists involved in the disruption at Cities Church. Federal authorities have arrested four key figures, including civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong, as the government pivots its focus to those on the ground. This split outcome highlights the complex impact of Nicki Minaj’s “weaponized outrage” strategy, which successfully drew national attention to the pastor’s alleged ICE ties but ultimately failed to secure the legal consequences she demanded for Lemon.
