Don Lemon Pleads Not Responsible After Calling Minnesota Church Protest a ‘Clandestine Mission’

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon pleaded not guilty Friday to federal charges stemming from what prosecutors describe as a coordinated disruption of a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Lemon has framed the case as a threat to press freedom. The charging documents suggest something far less noble.

Outside the court, Lemon invoked his three decades in journalism and the Constitution.

“For more than 30 years, I’ve been a journalist, and the power and protection of the First Amendment has been the underpinning of my work. The First Amendment, the freedom of the press, the bedrock of our democracy.”

Federal prosecutors allege Lemon was not simply observing events when anti-ICE agitators entered Cities Church during a Jan. 18 service. He has been charged with conspiracy against the rights of religious freedom at a place of worship and violating the FACE Act.

According to a federal affidavit:

Agitators disrupted the religious service and “intimidated, harassed, oppressed, and terrorized the parishioners, including young children, and caused the service to be cut short.” Churchgoers reported that stairs were blocked, preventing parents from reaching children in a downstairs childcare area.

That description stands in sharp contrast to Lemon’s portrayal of himself as a neutral journalist caught up in events beyond his control.

During his livestream of the incident, Lemon referred to the action as a “clandestine mission” and said:

“You have to be willing to go into places and disrupt and make people uncomfortable. That’s what this country is about.”

That statement may ultimately matter more than his courthouse remarks about democracy.

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Prosecutors did not seek to detain Lemon, and he was released under standard conditions. His legal team has indicated it will challenge the charges and seek access to grand jury materials.

Now it is about the facts. Jurors will see the video and hear what he said in real time. If they believe he crossed the line, the First Amendment defense is not going to do the heavy lifting for him.

Editor’s Note: Democrat politicians and their radical supporters will do everything they can to interfere with and threaten ICE agents enforcing our immigration laws.

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