Pam Bondi's mad after judge rejects charging Don Lemon over his Minnesota church reporting

"A federal magistrate judge in Minnesota rejected charging gay journalist Don Lemon after he covered a protest inside a St. Paul church Sunday, concerning journalism groups about silencing coverage. The judge would not sign the charging complaint against him, which has angered Attorney General Pam Bondi, CBS News reports. "The attorney general is enraged at the magistrate's decision," one source told the outlet. Related: DOJ threats against Don Lemon worry press freedom groups"

"On Sunday, protesters interrupted a church service at St. Paul's Cities Church, which Lemon covered. One of the pastors is an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official. Protests have erupted in Minnesota after the killing of Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on January 7. The news comes as Bondi announced that two people were arrested in connection with the same church protest."

"A magistrate judge had approved charges against them, Chauntyll Louisa Allen and Nekima Levy Armstrong. Armstrong is being charged over a civil rights law that prohibits two or more people from working together to interfere with constitutionally protected rights, CBS Notes. The former CNN anchor posted a recording Sunday evening on Bluesky showing him questioning Armstrong. The recording appears to rebut claims that Lemon participated in or directed the protest, instead showing him questioning protesters about their motives moments before they entered the church."

A federal magistrate judge in Minnesota refused to sign a charging complaint against Don Lemon after he covered a protest inside a St. Paul church, preventing immediate charges. Attorney General Pam Bondi expressed strong anger about the decision, and sources say the Justice Department may seek other ways to charge Lemon. Protesters interrupted a service at St. Paul's Cities Church, where one pastor is an ICE official, amid demonstrations following the January 7 killing of Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross. Two people were arrested in connection with the church protest and faced approved charges. Lemon posted a recording showing him questioning protesters and a pastor; the Civil Rights Division said Lemon was "on notice" and argued the First Amendment does not shield what it called "pseudo journalism of disrupting a prayer service."

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