MN - Journalist Don Lemon arrested for church protest, Minneapolis, 18 Jan 2026

[JennieM]

Open question -- was there a way to cover this event strictly as a journalist that would have been acceptable to everyone? IMO remaining entirely outside fails, from a news perspective -- you only get secondhand opinions about what really occurred, your audience has no opportunity to make their own judgments visually, and you run the risk of missing something important. After all, would we not feel inadequately informed and cheated if "Super Bowl coverage" was limited to pre and post game interviews? JMO

You can’t live report if you are not present.

 

[Sundog]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2018661394858873039

I've followed Harmeet Dhillon's cases for many years and she's an amazing attorney and person. I look forward to see her handling of this case.

 

[Sundog]

It may also be affected by how his flock perceive his deception.

I don't see any deception here. And I haven't seen anything in MSM that states that he was hiding his other employment from his congregants. Many pastors work two jobs and congregants know that it's necessary in many cases as they need to support themselves and their families. I don't know why some would think this is a problem.

 

[Sundog]

He is also a private citizen. He and his family and church are now victims of a crime. Are they not also entitled to that definition?

Yes, according to WS policy, they are considered to be victims of a crime.

 

[Sundog]

David Easterwood is an Acting Director for the St, Paul, MN Field Office in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

He is also listed as Pastor for Cities Church in St. Paul, MN.

source CSPAN and church website Leadership | Cities Church

So how is this a problem?

 

[Sundog]

so it is Websleuths job to determine who can be members of what church?

... or where their pastors can work.

 

[Sundog]

I just spoke with a neighbor of mine that was (now retired) journalist from a local news station. Also, now is a minister. He has some great stories, but thats beside the point. I asked him some questions regarding the issues raised here. His answer simply is as a journalist you go where the story is. A church, anywhere it does not matter, because thats where the action is period. You are an observer and reporter. He said this whole thing - indictment was to intimidate press. He spoke about trespassing laws, and said well an expletive. Freedom of the press is very important. So thats his 2 cents.

I guess he doesn't know about the FACE Act.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

I don't see any deception here. And I haven't seen anything in MSM that states that he was hiding his other employment from his congregants. Many pastors work two jobs and congregants know that it necessary in many cases as they need to support themselves and their families. I don't know why some would think this is a problem.

I don’t see any deception, and it’s not something I would have given a second thought to.

 

[Sundog]

Hunting human beings as a job with a sideline as a pastor or whatever church title he claims

The pastor's other profession was working for federal immigration enforcement charged with detainment and deportation of illegal immigrants. I don't know any country that would just sit by and watch 15 million illegal immigrants enter the country with no repercussions.

 

[Sundog]

Some of out peers on this thread are not clear on which jurisdiction enforces which law.

It the church has every right to request local LE assistance for local laws.

MOO

And the feds have jurisdiction to enforce the FACE Act.

 

[Sundog]

But did they know he was an ICE administrator?

I'm not sure how this even matters in terms of discussing this case. What they did know is that a group of agitators showed up and violated them during their worship service on a Sunday morning. Shameful and against the law.

 

[iamshadow21]

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

 

[Sundog]

d

Actually, it's not the least bit cut and dry, which is why TWO separate judges refused to sign a warrant for his arrest (links throughout the thread). Are you suggesting two judges don't know the law or can't recognize a crime when it's cut and dry? The professional journalism societies have all defended him (links throughout this thread) as well and it's also why so many continue to defend him. He did nothing illegal and I suspect the case will be thrown out of court.

MOO.

It wasn't cut and dry for the other judges who gave their legal opinions and decisions about this case. The federal magistrate judge, for example, suggested that the DOJ take the case to a grand jury, which they did.

 

[Sundog]

It will be interesting to see how they justify arresting him if the charges were rejected by the magistrate judge last week, and denied additional warrants by the federal appeals court judge.

The federal magistrate judge recommend that the DOJ take the case to a grand jury. The 8th Circuit Appeals Court were not unanimous about the case. So it was far from a slam dunk, and a grand jury reviewed the evidence and made the decision to indict.