Federal Official Warns Don Lemon of Potential Criminal Charges
Harmeet Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for civil rights, made a significant announcement on Monday. She stated that journalist Don Lemon might face federal charges at any moment. This development follows Lemon's participation with a group of anti-ICE protesters who stormed a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, during a service.
Church Service Disrupted by Protesters
The incident occurred at a church where the pastor faced accusations of having alleged links to ICE. Don Lemon was present at the scene, livestreaming the protest as it unfolded. His presence immediately raised serious questions about his awareness and involvement in the planned disruption.
Dhillon hinted at the potential charges during an appearance on the Benny Johnson Show. She specifically mentioned the Ku Klux Klan Act as a possible legal tool against Lemon. "The Klan Act is one of the most important federal civil rights statutes," Dhillon explained. "It's a law that makes it illegal to terrorize and violate the civil rights of citizens. Whenever people conspire to do this, the Klan Act can be used."
Don Lemon Defends His Actions
Don Lemon, the former CNN journalist who lost his job in 2023, defended his actions after the protest. He claimed he had no prior knowledge of the event and was not part of the organizing group. Lemon stated he was simply documenting protests against ICE in Minnesota. This documentation followed the shooting of Minneapolis woman Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross.
However, Dhillon strongly rejected this defense. She took to social media platform X to issue a clear warning. "A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest!" Dhillon wrote. "It is a space protected from exactly such acts by federal criminal and civil laws! Nor does the First Amendment protect your pseudo journalism of disrupting a prayer service. You are on notice."
Journalism Not a Shield, Says Official
Dhillon emphasized that Lemon's role as a journalist does not provide legal protection. "Don Lemon himself has come out and said he knew exactly what was going to happen inside that facility," she stated. "He went into the facility, and then he began 'committing journalism,' as if that's sort of a shield from being a part, an embedded part of a criminal conspiracy."
The assistant attorney general made it clear that authorities are preparing their case. "It isn't and so we're getting our ducks in a row, putting the facts together, and this is a very serious matter," she continued. Dhillon issued a stern warning to all potential protesters. "Come next Sunday, nobody should think in the United States that they're going to be able to get away with this."
She concluded with a powerful statement about federal enforcement. "Everyone in the protest community needs to know that the fullest force of the federal government is going to come down and prevent this from happening and put people away for a long, long time."
The situation highlights the tension between protest activities and legal boundaries, particularly in sensitive locations like places of worship. Federal authorities appear determined to pursue this case vigorously, setting a potential precedent for similar incidents in the future.
