Federal prosecutors have substantially expanded their case linked to a disruptive protest inside a Minnesota house of worship, issuing indictments against 30 additional individuals connected to the incident at Cities Church in St. Paul. The new charges bring the total number of defendants in the case to 39, including former CNN anchor and independent journalist Don Lemon, who had already faced federal civil rights allegations.
The protest occurred on January 18, when anti-ICE demonstrators entered a Sunday worship service at Cities Church, targeting one of its pastors who also serves as an official with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Authorities have said the intrusion amounted to a coordinated attempt to disrupt religious worship and intimidate congregants, prompting intense scrutiny over violations of constitutional rights of worship.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the superseding indictments, confirming that at her direction, federal agents had already arrested 25 of the newly charged individuals, with further arrests expected. Bondi reiterated that attacking a house of worship — regardless of motive — would be met with full legal force.
Lemon was among the first charged late last month after federal agents apprehended him in Los Angeles. Prosecutors allege the prominent media figure participated in activities beyond only reporting, claiming involvement in pre-event planning and describing his presence as operational rather than journalistic. Lemon has consistently pleaded not guilty and argued that he was acting within his rights as a journalist under the First Amendment.
In addition to the expanded criminal indictments, a civil lawsuit has now been filed by a parishioner, Ann Doucette, who alleges that the disruption at Cities Church caused “severe emotional distress” and interfered with her right to freely practice her religion. The complaint names Lemon and other demonstrators, asserting they coordinated their actions in a way that exceeded protected expression and entered the domain of intimidation.
The Justice Department’s charges include conspiracy against the right of religious worship and obstruction of access to a house of worship — statutes designed to protect Americans’ fundamental freedoms. Authorities argue that the protestors’ actions went beyond peaceful dissent and constituted a federal offense, given the setting and the alleged tactics used to displace worshippers and clergy.
Supporters of the government’s aggressive prosecution frame the expanded indictments as necessary to safeguard Christian congregations and religious liberty against politically motivated disruptions. Critics, however, see it as part of a widening pattern in which the government applies civil rights laws selectively based on the ideological leanings of those targeted. Lemon’s legal team maintains that his presence and reporting were constitutionally protected and has signaled plans for a vigorous defense.
As the case unfolds, it brings up profound issues about the balance between robust protest and protection of religious freedom — particularly when demonstrations intersect with sacred spaces and families assembled for worship. The coming weeks are likely to bring further litigation and public debate over the limits of protest, the role of journalists on the ground, and the federal government’s authority to intervene in such confrontations.
