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

[Inthedetails]

Orlando Sonza, I'm assuming, since he is apparently heading the team, but I don't know.

We'll find out tomorrow, I suppose.

jmo

This looks like the prosecution's team:


One of the main attorneys assigned to the case — Orlando Sonza — is a failed Ohio Republican congressional candidate who graduated from law school in 2022 and whose only prosecutorial experience until now entailed working in the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office over the course of about a year and a half as an intern, a law clerk and assistant prosecutor, according to his personnel file seen by CBS News.

A second Civil Rights Division attorney who was added to the case after the indictment was returned, Greta Gieseke, is also a 2022 law school graduate who is assigned to the Civil Rights Division's appellate section.

A third lawyer added to the case, Josh Zuckerman, is a 2020 law school graduate who worked as an associate for four years at the multinational law firm Gibson Dunn before joining the Justice Department.

A few hours after CBS News sought comment, Civil Rights Division Acting Deputy Associate Attorney General Robert Keenan, who previously appeared in court during an initial appearance for several of the defendants, formally entered an appearance in the case.

Keenan is a longtime federal prosecutor from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Orange County, California, though he has not handled many civil rights matters, a review of court filings show.

Civil rights attorneys predict charges against Don Lemon, others will be dismissed, citing flaws in FACE Act

Inexperienced prosecutors are testing FACE Act in their case against Don Lemon. But the law has constitutional problems that make it untenable to charge misconduct in a house of worship.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[Inthedetails]

"There is a wealth of litigation and circuit court decisions holding that the reproductive health aspect of the FACE Act are constitutional," she told CBS News, noting that health care clinics are "inherently interstate" in how they operate because they receive medical supplies and offer services to out-of-state patients.

A church, however, is typically a local operation that is not engaged in interstate commerce. That and the constitutional concerns have made it untenable to use in any criminal case, she said.

"There really is no interstate commerce clause hook," she said, noting that the indictment also fails to cite one.

Civil rights attorneys predict charges against Don Lemon, others will be dismissed, citing flaws in FACE Act

Inexperienced prosecutors are testing FACE Act in their case against Don Lemon. But the law has constitutional problems that make it untenable to charge misconduct in a house of worship.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[mickey2942]

I also see this case in a very similar light to the January 6, demonstration. It got out of hand, as this did.

People who were convicted in the "January 6" demonstration were pardoned by President Trump.

It would be helpful if people could stand back, and view this objectively.

 

[otto]

Lemon references the First Amendment, freedom of speech, and freedom to assemble and protest as justification for being in the church during a scheduled religious meeting. Is he correct?

"Pastor: “This is unacceptable. It’s shameful to interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship.”

Lemon: “Listen, there’s a Constitution, the First Amendment, freedom of speech, and freedom to assemble and protest.”

Pastor: “We’re here to worship Jesus because the hope of the world is Jesus Christ —”

Lemon: “But did you try to talk to them?”

Pastor: “No one is willing to talk. I have to take care of my church and my family, so I ask that you would also leave this building.”

Let’s unpack Lemon’s argument for a moment regarding “the First Amendment, freedom of speech, and freedom to assemble and protest.”

... the freedom to assemble and protest does not pertain to private property or religious gatherings. The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, passed by Democrats and Republicans in 1994 during the Clinton administration, strictly prohibits protests on religious property."

The rich irony of the KKK Act taking down activist Don Lemon

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon is in hot water with the Department of Justice following his role in the church protest in Minnesota.

www.washingtonexaminer.com

 

[J. J. in Phila]

The indictment against journalist Don Lemon and eight others will likely be dismissed because it hinges on a charge that is viewed as so constitutionally flawed that the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division has never attempted to use it to prosecute interference in a house of worship, legal experts say. ...

The First Amendment protects individuals' religious freedom from government interference. But it does not protect them from interference by private individuals, like the protesters and journalists charged in the indictment, they say.

Civil rights attorneys predict charges against Don Lemon, others will be dismissed, citing flaws in FACE Act

Inexperienced prosecutors are testing FACE Act in their case against Don Lemon. But the law has constitutional problems that make it untenable to charge misconduct in a house of worship.

www.cbsnews.com

p.s. I do not approve of disrupting a worship service

The statute, however, has been found constitutional.

 

[otto]

This is regarding this case:

The affidavit in support of the complaint was made by an ICE agent with less than a year of experience. Affidavits in cases like this are usually filed by FBI agents, since they are the ones investigating criminal civil rights violations.

Civil rights attorneys predict charges against Don Lemon, others will be dismissed, citing flaws in FACE Act

Inexperienced prosecutors are testing FACE Act in their case against Don Lemon. But the law has constitutional problems that make it untenable to charge misconduct in a house of worship.

www.cbsnews.com

Is this man unqualified to swear an affidavit regarding evidence gathered in support of an arrest warrant? If so, why?

p.1, affidavit in support of arrest warrant

 

[witchway]

I also see this case in a very similar light to the January 6, demonstration. It got out of hand, as this did.

People who were convicted in the "January 6" demonstration were pardoned by President Trump.

It would be helpful if people could stand back, and view this objectively.

Jan 6th, Got out of hand is an understatement IMO

 

[Inthedetails]

Is this man unqualified to swear an affidavit regarding evidence gathered in support of an arrest warrant? If so, why?

View attachment 644249
p.1, affidavit in support of arrest warrant

The source I provided does not claim the ICE agent is unqualified, as you ask, but that affidavits such as this one are usually filed by FBI agents, to repeat what I posted. The link to the article was provided but I'll add it again below.

If you want to find out more about that, you could contact the journalist who wrote the article and/or search for clarification on your own.

Or, perhaps someone else on the thread knows more about ICE agents filing affadavits against journalists.

jmopinion

Civil rights attorneys predict charges against Don Lemon, others will be dismissed, citing flaws in FACE Act

Inexperienced prosecutors are testing FACE Act in their case against Don Lemon. But the law has constitutional problems that make it untenable to charge misconduct in a house of worship.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[J. J. in Phila]

The source I provided does not claim the ICE agent is unqualified, as you ask, but that affidavits such as this one are usually filed by FBI agents, to repeat what I posted. The link to the article was provided but I'll add it again below.

If you want to find out more about that, you could contact the journalist who wrote the article and/or search for clarification on your own.

Or, perhaps someone else on the thread knows more about ICE agents filing affadavits against journalists.

jmopinion

Civil rights attorneys predict charges against Don Lemon, others will be dismissed, citing flaws in FACE Act

Inexperienced prosecutors are testing FACE Act in their case against Don Lemon. But the law has constitutional problems that make it untenable to charge misconduct in a house of worship.

www.cbsnews.com

Perhaps the "civil rights attorneys" should look at Hill vs. Colorado https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/530/703/ and Reno vs. American Life League https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/855/137/1973188/

MMO.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

I also see this case in a very similar light to the January 6, demonstration. It got out of hand, as this did.

People who were convicted in the "January 6" demonstration were pardoned by President Trump.

It would be helpful if people could stand back, and view this objectively.

I see no similarities whatsoever between this and January 6th.

MOO.

 

[Ruminations]

Snips but the article needs to be read from the beginning.


"The constitutional problems with the law, as related to worshipers, are part of the reason prosecutors have never attempted to use it in a religious freedom case.

The problem, some former Civil Rights Division lawyers say, is that the section in the FACE Act criminalizing interference at houses of worship fundamentally misstates the rights people have under the First Amendment.

The First Amendment protects individuals' religious freedom from government interference. But it does not protect them from interference by private individuals, like the protesters and journalists charged in the indictment, they say.

It's also just one in a series of red flags that former Justice Department officials believe could spell trouble for the case and lead to a quick dismissal.

"This is not a legitimate use of the FACE Act. This is wholly outside the core purpose that the law was passed, and I will not be surprised if these cases are quickly thrown out," said Kristen Clarke, the former Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.'

Civil rights attorneys predict charges against Don Lemon, others will be dismissed, citing flaws in FACE Act

Inexperienced prosecutors are testing FACE Act in their case against Don Lemon. But the law has constitutional problems that make it untenable to charge misconduct in a house of worship.

www.cbsnews.com

So, if I'm reading this correctly:

If a team of federal agents stake out a church because they imagine someone entering or leaving to worship inside is might have unsatisfactory immigrant status, thus causing pretty much the whole congregation to stay home, that would be a violation of the FACE act, because it is the government interfering with freedom of religion? Is that it?

MOO

 

[Smelly Squirrel]

Lemon references the First Amendment, freedom of speech, and freedom to assemble and protest as justification for being in the church during a scheduled religious meeting. Is he correct?

"Pastor: “This is unacceptable. It’s shameful to interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship.”

Lemon: “Listen, there’s a Constitution, the First Amendment, freedom of speech, and freedom to assemble and protest.”

Pastor: “We’re here to worship Jesus because the hope of the world is Jesus Christ —”

Lemon: “But did you try to talk to them?”

Pastor: “No one is willing to talk. I have to take care of my church and my family, so I ask that you would also leave this building.”

Let’s unpack Lemon’s argument for a moment regarding “the First Amendment, freedom of speech, and freedom to assemble and protest.”

... the freedom to assemble and protest does not pertain to private property or religious gatherings. The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, passed by Democrats and Republicans in 1994 during the Clinton administration, strictly prohibits protests on religious property."

The rich irony of the KKK Act taking down activist Don Lemon

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon is in hot water with the Department of Justice following his role in the church protest in Minnesota.

www.washingtonexaminer.com

Legal arguments by Lemon himself are irrelevant. He's not a lawyer nor a First Amendment expert, and is not going to be arguing his case in court. He will be well represented by real experts.

 

[Smelly Squirrel]

Perhaps the "civil rights attorneys" should look at Hill vs. Colorado https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/530/703/ and Reno vs. American Life League https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/855/137/1973188/

MMO.

They're both irrelevant to this case, since they're about abortion clinics. The church clause of the Face Act has never been tested in court, nor likely even prosecuted. That clause has been questioned on the basis of whether it is constitutional under the Commerce Clause. That may be an defense raised in this case.

 

[Smelly Squirrel]

Below is a excellent analysis of the case by legal experts. It's very long but worth reading if you want to understand the legal issues here. They raise many pros and cons for each party to the case.

Minnesota FACE Off: A Deep Dive Into the St. Paul Church Protest Case

Unpacking the Don Lemon indictment, its factual allegations, the elements the government must prove to convict, and the potential defenses available to the accused.

www.lawfaremedia.org