Don Lemon Hires Former Federal Prosecutor to Defend Against Church Protest Felony Charges
Key Facts
- Don Lemon is charged with two felonies: conspiracy to violate religious freedom and a violation of the FACE Act.
- Joseph H. Thompson, a former Trump-appointed acting U.S. Attorney, joined Lemon's legal team on Tuesday.
- The charges stem from a January 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
- Lemon was arrested on January 30 in Beverly Hills.
- Thompson previously led the prosecution of a $250 million fraud case involving Feeding Our Future.
- Abbe Lowell remains Lemon's lead defense attorney.
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon has added Joseph H. Thompson, a former Trump-appointed federal prosecutor, to his legal team. According to court records filed Tuesday, Thompson will serve as counsel of record alongside lead defense attorney Abbe Lowell. Lemon faces two federal felonies: conspiring to intimidate or violate the free exercise of religion and violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. The charges follow a January 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, which Lemon was livestreaming.
Federal authorities arrested Lemon on January 30 in Beverly Hills, alleging he participated in a “takeover-style attack” of the church and intimidated congregants. Lemon has maintained that he was acting as an independent journalist covering the event. The protest was organized in response to the fatal shooting of Renée Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. Lemon stated that he stands by his reporting and suggested the legal focus should remain on the circumstances of Good's death.
Thompson joins the defense after resigning from the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office in January, where he recently served as acting U.S. Attorney. During his 17-year tenure, Thompson led the prosecution of a $250 million food fraud case involving the organization Feeding Our Future. His departure from the Department of Justice is currently a point of dispute among sources, with conflicting reports regarding whether his resignation was prompted by political pressure or pre-planned retirement.
Historical Context
The charges against Lemon involve the FACE Act, a federal law that prohibits the use of force or threats to intentionally interfere with the First Amendment right to practice religion at a place of worship. The January 18 protest at Cities Church was motivated by suspicions among activists that the church's pastor had collaborated with federal immigration authorities following the fatal shooting of Renée Good.
Perspective Analysis
Sources: Washington Post · Fox News · CNN · The Hill
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