Two More Arrested in Minnesota Church Protest Case as Legal Battle Over Press Freedom Intensifies
Federal prosecutors on Monday announced the arrests of two more individuals connected to a protest at a Minnesota church in January, a case that has escalated into a flashpoint over religious freedom, immigration enforcement, and press rights.
Attorney General Pam Bondi identified the newly detained as Ian Davis Austin and Jerome Deangelo Richardson. They are among nine defendants, including journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, named in a federal indictment unsealed last week. The indictment charges all with conspiracy against religious freedom and interfering with worship at a place of worship—a rarely invoked statute.
The protest on January 18 targeted The Cities Church in St. Paul, where demonstrators alleged the pastor was an employee of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Department of Homeland Security later characterized the event as a "coordinated attack."
Lemon, the former CNN anchor arrested last Friday while covering the event, was released along with several others after a federal magistrate rejected the initial criminal complaint. The judge found insufficient probable cause, noting the legal theory underpinning the charges had never before been applied to a protest at a church.
"If you riot in a place of worship, we WILL find you," Bondi stated in a social media post announcing the latest arrests.
The case has drawn intense scrutiny, with Lemon's attorney, Abbe Lowell, condemning the arrest as "an unprecedented attack on the First Amendment." The incident has fueled broader criticism of the administration's immigration policies in Minnesota, coming amid public outrage over recent fatal shootings by federal officers in the state.
Upon his release, Lemon vowed to continue his reporting, stating he was merely performing his journalistic duty at the protest.
Reactions & Analysis:
Marcus Thorne, Legal Analyst: "The magistrate’s decision to release Lemon highlights the fragility of the prosecution's novel legal approach. Using a conspiracy charge against journalists covering a protest sets a dangerous precedent that could chill legitimate newsgathering."
Rebecca Shaw, Community Advocate: "This isn't just about one protest. It's about the escalating tension between federal immigration enforcement and communities. The church's alleged ties to ICE made it a focal point for legitimate public dissent."
Gregory Phelps, Political Commentator: "This is an absolute disgrace. Bondi's department is weaponizing the law to silence critics and the press under the thinnest veil of 'protecting worship.' It's a blatant political stunt that undermines justice."
Dr. Elena Rodriguez, Sociology Professor: "The case reflects a broader pattern of conflating protest with criminal conspiracy. The addition of these two arrests seems aimed at bolstering a legally tenuous case by expanding its scope."
This report includes information originally published by NBC News.