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.

Conservatives who approve of these kinds of unconstitutional practices might want to think about how they will feel if/when the tables are turned on them.

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]

The church was exposed for what it was by reporting. No one should be above the law or protected for doing bad things in the name of god. IMO

 

[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

 

[Sundog]

The church was exposed for what it was by reporting. No one should be above the law or protected for doing bad things in the name of god. IMO

No one at the Church, as far as it has been reported, was "doing bad things in the name of God." The Church is the people of God and they were praying and reading the Word of God when the protesters were exposed for who they are. The Church is the victim here, not the protesters who were breaking the law and trespassing in the sanctuary.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

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

I don't believe for a moment the charges are unconstitutional, and if some conservative group did the same thing, they ought to be charged exactly the same as Lemon and this group has been charged. 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

 

[witchway]

No one at the Church, as far as it has been reported, was "doing bad things in the name of God." The Church is the people of God and they were praying and reading the Word of God when the protesters were exposed for who they are. The Church is the victim here, not the protesters who were breaking the law and trespassing in the sanctuary.

I assume this is your opinion only. People can and do have different opinions. God may have a different opinion as well. We don’t know. JMO