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

[Ruminations]

I was responding to the overall tone of the piece, not the minute details.

Right. Because it was not an opinion piece. It was factual reporting.

I didn't see a tone. It might be you didn't like the facts?

MOO

 

[Ontario Mom]

Right. Because it was not an opinion piece. It was factual reporting.

I didn't see a tone. It might be you didn't like the facts?

MOO

We disagree, and it'd be nice to just leave it at that without your condescending remarks.

 

[Sundog]

"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. "

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

No wonder there was a clean-up at the CR division.

 

[Sundog]

Thanks for the link that defines the speaking indictment. Good information to understand how it works, why it works, and how it can backfire.

You're welcome!

 

[GatorsNorth]

We disagree, and it'd be nice to just leave it at that without your condescending remarks.

What condescending remarks? I didn’t see anything that reeks of condescension to me. JMO IMO

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

No wonder there was a clean-up at the CR division.

Definitely. The administration must have felt loyalty trumps the Constitution. It's really sad.

MOO.

 

[Smelly Squirrel]

Jonathan Darnel, an anti-abortion activist who was sentenced to 34 months in prison in a FACE Act case and then pardoned by Trump, told NBC News on Thursday that he wanted to see the final report before commenting on it. But Darnel also criticized the Trump administration’s approach to the FACE Act against Lemon.

“I’m definitely not a fan of overzealous prosecution, whichever way it goes,” Darnel told NBC News after Lemon’s arrest. “The punishment should fit the crime, and FACE — especially when you couple FACE with conspiracy charges — could send somebody to prison for years, and that just seems like way too much of a penalty for what is effectively just ruining people’s morning.”

Trump administration plans to attack Biden DOJ as 'anti-Christian' in new report

The report comes out of an executive order that established a "Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias," according to details viewed by NBC News.

www.nbcnews.com

I mentioned Darnel earlier. He is not the only pro life activist who at least is consistent in being against the Face Act in all cases, including Randall Terry.

Pro-Lifers Denounce Don Lemon Arrest, Call for the Repeal of FACE - Christian Newswire

Share This ArticleNEWS PROVIDED BY Rescue Resurrection Jan. 30, 2026 LOS ANGELES, Jan. 30, 2026 /Christian Newswire/ — Last night, ex-CNN Anchor Don

www.christiannewswire.com

Also regarding that ridiculous "weaponization" report,

https://twitter.com/x/status/2044107813950017981

moo

 

[Ruminations]

I mentioned Darnel earlier. He is not the only pro life activist who at least is consistent in being against the Face Act in all cases, including Randall Terry.

Pro-Lifers Denounce Don Lemon Arrest, Call for the Repeal of FACE - Christian Newswire

Share This ArticleNEWS PROVIDED BY Rescue Resurrection Jan. 30, 2026 LOS ANGELES, Jan. 30, 2026 /Christian Newswire/ — Last night, ex-CNN Anchor Don

www.christiannewswire.com

Also regarding that ridiculous "weaponization" report,

https://twitter.com/x/status/2044107813950017981

moo

So---

The Lemon arrest is an ABOUT-FACE on FACE?

I'll see myself out.

MOO

 

[SouthAussie]

"Earlier this year, the Justice Department charged journalist Don Lemon and dozens of others with violating a provision of the law in connection with an anti-ICE protest inside a church in Twin Cities, Minnesota, which prohibits people from intimidating or interfering with people exercising their constitutional freedom to practice religion.

Earlier draft excerpts of the FACE Act report previously reviewed by CBS News show that the Justice Department's civil rights appellate lawyers penned a memo in 2018 which warned prosecutors not to charge the house of worship provision because it was unconstitutional and lacks a jurisdictional hook.

Such an internal memo could potentially harm the ongoing FACE Act prosecution in Minnesota. The final version of the report released on Tuesday does not appear to make reference to the memo."

Justice Department releases report accusing Biden-era DOJ of uneven enforcement of FACE Act law

The report claims the Justice Department under Merrick Garland "violated the rights of Americans" by only applying the law to support those in support of abortion rights, not those who worked at anti-abortion rights facilities.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[SouthAussie]

Georgia Fort will be sitting at The Guardian's table at this year's White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.


The Guardian’s table at the dinner will include leaders from press freedom organizations as well as Georgia Fort, the independent journalist arrested after covering a church protest in Minnesota in January.

Trump to break bread with journalists at annual dinner amid threats to jail them

Trump to attend correspondents’ dinner for first time as president, while some newsrooms ‘wrestle’ with whether to go

www.theguardian.com

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

I mentioned Darnel earlier. He is not the only pro life activist who at least is consistent in being against the Face Act in all cases, including Randall Terry.

Pro-Lifers Denounce Don Lemon Arrest, Call for the Repeal of FACE - Christian Newswire

Share This ArticleNEWS PROVIDED BY Rescue Resurrection Jan. 30, 2026 LOS ANGELES, Jan. 30, 2026 /Christian Newswire/ — Last night, ex-CNN Anchor Don

www.christiannewswire.com

Also regarding that ridiculous "weaponization" report,

https://twitter.com/x/status/2044107813950017981

moo

Justice for me but not for thee. Just another example of hypocrisy and corruption. Or maybe they saw the writing on the wall and knew DL will never be convicted, so they're changing the law.

MOO.

 

[Smelly Squirrel]

There's been some progress on the Motion for Grand Jury Materials. An order was entered for the government to reply by 5/1.

(Text-Only) BRIEFING ORDER. Before the Court is Defendants' 491 Joint Motion for Disclosure of Grand Jury Material. Any response from the government shall be submitted no later than 5/1/2026. Ordered by Magistrate Judge Douglas L. Micko on 4/24/2026. (LC1) (Entered: 04/24/2026)

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72212459/506/united-states-v-levy-armstrong/

 

[Smelly Squirrel]

There were several other filings over the last two weeks, mostly regarding the government's Motion for Protective Order, which is about sealing personal information of persons involved in the case.

The Motion was partially granted.

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72212459/503/united-states-v-levy-armstrong/

There was also a Motion to Compel Discovery by Defendant Thomas Tier on 4/14. He requested some specific items from the government and was not satisfied by the response.

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72212459/493/united-states-v-levy-armstrong/

The government in an unrelated filing on 4/23 stated they intended to produce discovery on 4/24 as previously ordered by the court. Which I assume they did do so, or there would be filings about it by now.

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72212459/504/united-states-v-levy-armstrong/

 

[Smelly Squirrel]

Thomas Tier's Motion to Compel Discovery has some interesting items.

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72212459/493/united-states-v-levy-armstrong/

On page 8:

1. Substantial evidence in the public record establishes the government has coerced and rewarded the prosecution team and probable witnesses for their conduct in this investigation.

Which then cites several news reports about DOJ incentives and quotas, including:

Staff At Minnesota Deportation Hub Received ‘Obscene’ Trump-Themed Challenge Coins Adorned With Skulls

Federal employees involved in the massive operation that led to a surge...

talkingpointsmemo.com

https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2025/01/26/ice-arrests-raids-trump-quota/

Two senior Ice officials reassigned over slow rate of deportations and arrests

Top-ranking immigration enforcement officials removed from their positions reportedly due to deportation numbers

www.theguardian.com

Bondi in Minnesota announces several more protester arrests

Bondi posted the news on social media, claiming those arrested "have been resisting and impeding our federal law enforcement agents."

www.kare11.com

Also a DHS link,

DHS Announces New Reimbursement Opportunities for State and Local Law Enforcement Partnering with ICE to Arrest the Worst of the Worst Criminal Illegal Aliens | Homeland Security

DHS announced new reimbursement opportunities for state and law enforcement who are helping ICE arrest and remove the worst of the worst including murderers, gang members, rapists, terrorists, and pedophiles from American communities.

www.dhs.gov

And one on the church member who filed a lawsuit.

St. Paul church member files lawsuit over anti-ICE protest

A St. Paul church member has filed a lawsuit against a group of protesters who disrupted a church service last month as part of an anti-ICE protest, seeking damages over mental distress caused by the demonstration.

www.fox9.com

 

[SouthAussie]

Thomas Tier's Motion to Compel Discovery has some interesting items.

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72212459/493/united-states-v-levy-armstrong/

On page 8:

1. Substantial evidence in the public record establishes the government has coerced and rewarded the prosecution team and probable witnesses for their conduct in this investigation.

Which then cites several news reports about DOJ incentives and quotas, including:

Staff At Minnesota Deportation Hub Received ‘Obscene’ Trump-Themed Challenge Coins Adorned With Skulls

Federal employees involved in the massive operation that led to a surge...

talkingpointsmemo.com

https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2025/01/26/ice-arrests-raids-trump-quota/

Two senior Ice officials reassigned over slow rate of deportations and arrests

Top-ranking immigration enforcement officials removed from their positions reportedly due to deportation numbers

www.theguardian.com

Bondi in Minnesota announces several more protester arrests

Bondi posted the news on social media, claiming those arrested "have been resisting and impeding our federal law enforcement agents."

www.kare11.com

Also a DHS link,

DHS Announces New Reimbursement Opportunities for State and Local Law Enforcement Partnering with ICE to Arrest the Worst of the Worst Criminal Illegal Aliens | Homeland Security

DHS announced new reimbursement opportunities for state and law enforcement who are helping ICE arrest and remove the worst of the worst including murderers, gang members, rapists, terrorists, and pedophiles from American communities.

www.dhs.gov

And one on the church member who filed a lawsuit.

St. Paul church member files lawsuit over anti-ICE protest

A St. Paul church member has filed a lawsuit against a group of protesters who disrupted a church service last month as part of an anti-ICE protest, seeking damages over mental distress caused by the demonstration.

www.fox9.com

Also interesting is the part about military action. IIRC the govt has pulled in military prosecutors to try this case.

(from your courtlistener link)