Don Lemon, others plead not responsible to Minnesota church protest fees

A number of folks charged in reference to a protest at a Minnesota church whose pastor served as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official pleaded not responsible Friday afternoon in a St. Paul federal courtroom.

Journalist Don Lemon, who’s being represented by former Assistant U.S. Legal professional Joe Thompson, has pleaded not responsible to conspiracy in opposition to the proper of non secular freedom at a spot of worship and injuring, intimidating and interfering with the train of the proper of non secular freedom at a spot of worship.

Lemon’s attorneys are additionally asking for the Division of Homeland Safety to return his seized cellphone. In Friday’s listening to, Choose Douglas Micko lobbied federal prosecutors to return the cellphone, however they declare they’re nonetheless processing a search warrant.

Native activists Chauntyll Allen and Nekima Levy Armstrong and two others additionally pleaded not responsible throughout Friday’s listening to.

Courtroom paperwork say the group interrupted providers at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, final month. The protesters focused the church as a result of certainly one of its pastors, David Easterwood, additionally led the native ICE workplace.

Authorized specialists instructed CBS Information they anticipate the costs in opposition to the group to be dismissed. The indictment alleges the disruption violated the FACE Act, which prohibits folks from intimidating or interfering with folks exercising their constitutional freedom to follow faith. However some former Civil Rights Division attorneys say the cost is constitutionally flawed and has by no means earlier than been used to prosecute interference in a home of worship.

Earlier than the indictment, a federal Justice of the Peace choose in Minnesota refused to signal a criticism charging Lemon within the case.

Levy Armstrong instructed WCCO her religion compelled her to protest Easterwood.

“The fact is, as a Christian who can also be an ordained reverend, in my custom, it is very important converse up while you see injustice,” she mentioned.

Unbiased journalist Georgia Fort and one different individual charged within the case are set to be arraigned on Tuesday.