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

[BayouBelle_LA]

Well, this thread is about only one of them -- Don Lemon. And I don't believe he has done anything wrong, so will have to disagree with that. I think he was arrested for grandstanding purposes by a DOJ that was likely elated to make headlines with such an arrest.

MOO.

bbm
And Don Lemon was part of the group in my opinion.

 

[Betty P]

I'm curious how you know that most of those 30 "weren't really involved" as you state?
Where is that information coming from?

From observing video of the event and reading the articles about the additional arrests. They even admit some of the people weren't actually at the church, but worked to help "organize" the event.

<Modsnip-politicizing>.

 

[Ontario Mom]

From observing video of the event and reading the articles about the additional arrests. They even admit some of the people weren't actually at the church, but worked to help "organize" the event.

<modsnip>

If the folks named helped organize the event, they were involved.

I don't believe for a moment the charges are unconstitutional, <modsnipped- original> NO ONE has the right to deprive other people of their right to freely worship.

 

[SouthAussie]

Could this affect Don's case?


A judge is expected to hear arguments soon over whether military attorneys may prosecute civilians in federal court.

Military attorneys usually handle cases involving fellow service members, but in Minnesota they’re helping to fill a staffing shortage after a mass resignation of federal prosecutors.

Riach argues that military attorneys have no business prosecuting civilians, and said that the federal government has expanded its militarization of law enforcement from the streets into the courtroom.

“It’s been taken to the next level by actually bringing in active duty military to handle civilian law enforcement,” Riach said. “The Posse Comitatus Act forbids that, and for good reason. There’s supposed to be a boundary between the two.”

Military attorneys fill Minnesota prosecutor gap, raising civilian legal questions

A federal judge will hear arguments on whether Army lawyers can prosecute civilians after a Minnesota prosecutor shortage in a case tied to a protester charged after an ICE encounter.

www.mprnews.org

 

[SouthAussie]

Charges Dropped Against Woman Mistaken for Protester in Minnesota Church Case

Federal prosecutors dismissed charges against one of 39 defendants they charged for disrupting a worship service in January to protest the immigration crackdown.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Smelly Squirrel]

View attachment 653975

Charges Dropped Against Woman Mistaken for Protester in Minnesota Church Case

Federal prosecutors dismissed charges against one of 39 defendants they charged for disrupting a worship service in January to protest the immigration crackdown.

www.nytimes.com

Yet another example that this is a sloppy and unnecessarily rushed prosecution.

 

[Ruminations]

View attachment 653975

Charges Dropped Against Woman Mistaken for Protester in Minnesota Church Case

Federal prosecutors dismissed charges against one of 39 defendants they charged for disrupting a worship service in January to protest the immigration crackdown.

www.nytimes.com

If I remember correctly, they already had picked up a wrong person in the first wave.

MOO

 

[Betty P]

Could this affect Don's case?


A judge is expected to hear arguments soon over whether military attorneys may prosecute civilians in federal court.

Military attorneys usually handle cases involving fellow service members, but in Minnesota they’re helping to fill a staffing shortage after a mass resignation of federal prosecutors.

Riach argues that military attorneys have no business prosecuting civilians, and said that the federal government has expanded its militarization of law enforcement from the streets into the courtroom.

“It’s been taken to the next level by actually bringing in active duty military to handle civilian law enforcement,” Riach said. “The Posse Comitatus Act forbids that, and for good reason. There’s supposed to be a boundary between the two.”

Military attorneys fill Minnesota prosecutor gap, raising civilian legal questions

A federal judge will hear arguments on whether Army lawyers can prosecute civilians after a Minnesota prosecutor shortage in a case tied to a protester charged after an ICE encounter.

www.mprnews.org

Theres no reasonfor federal charges to apply, let alone allowing military justices to preside over these cases.

The cases should be tried in the usual jurisdictions - at the state and local level. JMO.

 

[witchway]

Judge slams Trump's DOJ for making a rookie error in Minnesota protester probe

A federal judge slammed President Donald Trump's Department of Justice during a recent court order after the agency admitted to making a rookie mistake in the probe of protesters who attended a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, according to a new report. In January, protesters attended a...

www.rawstory.com

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

If the folks named helped organize the event, they were involved.

I don't believe for a moment the charges are unconstitutional, <modsnip> NO ONE has the right to deprive other people of their right to freely worship.

The Face Act that demonizes DL and these defendants was also violated by groups that protested abortion. They were later pardoned by the president, who also made clear that future prosecutions would only happen in "extraordinary circumstances." Same law. One group was pardoned and protections put in place for future arrests; another group villianized.

Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

MOO.

 

[303gmf]

Ones theological beliefs don’t dictate what our constitution states and the millions who don’t subscribe to these particular beliefs have a voice & are allowed to call out the damaging behavior

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

View attachment 653975

Charges Dropped Against Woman Mistaken for Protester in Minnesota Church Case

Federal prosecutors dismissed charges against one of 39 defendants they charged for disrupting a worship service in January to protest the immigration crackdown.

www.nytimes.com

It feels like this whole thing has Scooby Doo energy. And Shaggy's still looking under the couch cushion for clues.

MOO.

 

[Sundog]

Ones theological beliefs don’t dictate what our constitution states and the millions who don’t subscribe to these particular beliefs have a voice & are allowed to call out the damaging behavior

Yes, that is why we have the FACE Act, to protect the voices of the millions who hold these particular beliefs and hold those accountable who violate them.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

Judge slams Trump's DOJ for making a rookie error in Minnesota protester probe

A federal judge slammed President Donald Trump's Department of Justice during a recent court order after the agency admitted to making a rookie mistake in the probe of protesters who attended a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, according to a new report. In January, protesters attended a...

www.rawstory.com

“Here we are, months into a case that the government had an intense appetite to initiate, but cannot seem to keep up the pace when it comes to discovery obligations,” Micko wrote. “This is unacceptable.”

The defendant's lawyer, Brock Hunter, told the NYT that the government believed his client was one of the protesters because they cross-referenced her cell phone location data with video footage and his client's driver's license."

Wow, the judge didn't hold back. It's also frightening that any one of us can be swept up in these things, and drained of our finances, thanks to the federal government's reliance on misleading surveillance of American citizens.

MOO.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

Yes, that is why we have the FACE Act, to protect the voices of the millions who hold these particular beliefs and hold those accountable who violate them.

Except when the violators are pardoned by the same government that prosecutes others.

MOO.

 

[303gmf]

Yes, that is why we have the FACE Act, to protect the voices of the millions who hold these particular beliefs and hold those accountable who violate them.

It’s a whole different world since Clinton’s 94 act

 

[Ontario Mom]

The Face Act that demonizes DL and these defendants was also violated by groups that protested abortion. They were later pardoned by the president, who also made clear that future prosecutions would only happen in "extraordinary circumstances." Same law. One group was pardoned and protections put in place for future arrests; another group villianized.

Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

MOO.

Don Lemon's case and the circumstances around it are completely seperate from legal actions taken in a completely different case with completely different circumstances.

Legal cases being processed under the exact same laws are handled differently every single day - and WS is filled with examples of it. One woman kills her child and walks free where another one does the same and spends the rest of her life in jail. Same laws, two completely different outcomes. Is that fair or just? Folks will disagree on that until the end of time, I'm sure.

Does it mean DL shouldn't be held accountable to the same law because someone else was either pardoned or did the same and never charged? Absolutely not. DL knew exactly what he was doing and should be held accountable for it.

jmo

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

Don Lemon's case and the circumstances around it are completely seperate from legal actions taken in a completely different case with completely different circumstances.

Legal cases being processed under the exact same laws are handled differently every single day - and WS is filled with examples of it. One woman kills her child and walks free where another one does the same and spends the rest of her life in jail. Same laws, two completely different outcomes. Is that fair or just? Folks will disagree on that until the end of time, I'm sure.

Does it mean DL shouldn't be held accountable to the same law because someone else was either pardoned or did the same and never charged? Absolutely not. DL knew exactly what he was doing and should be held accountable for it.

jmo

Except they didn't walk free. They were arrested, held accountable, and convicted of the crime. A pardon is not the same as "walking free." It's the president saying "yes, you committed this crime, but you don't deserve to do time for it" and most of the time (IMO), that's due to partisanship, especially so in the case of the anti-abortion activists.

MOO.

 

[Ontario Mom]

Except they didn't walk free. They were arrested, held accountable, and convicted of the crime. A pardon is not the same as "walking free." It's the president saying "yes, you committed this crime, but you don't deserve to do time for it" and most of the time (IMO), that's due to partisanship, especially so in the case of the anti-abortion activists.

MOO.

We're simply going to have to agree to disagree. My interest in this case is seeing justice for those who violated the rights of others. Not in any other cases that people want to compare this one to.

jmo

 

[Sundog]

We're simply going to have to agree to disagree. My interest in this case is seeing justice for those who violated the rights of others. Not in any other cases that people want to compare this one to.

jmo

Agree, and different administrations handle pardons differently. IIRC, the last administration pardoned criminals on death row, overturned their death penalty sentences to life in prison. Another political pardon. It happens with each president.