A federal magistrate judge found the Trump administration lacked probable cause to arrest Lemon and several of other defendants under a federal statute that a top Justice Department official conceded had never been used in the context of a protest at a church before.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/don-lemon-arrested-federal-authorities-attorney-says-rcna256680

As I understand it, a Grand Jury found there was probable cause to arrest Lemon.

2 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

As I understand it, a Grand Jury found there was probable cause to arrest Lemon.

Sure. But proving at trial is something else especially -- as acknowledged by the 'top' DoJ official -- there is no precedent as to whose rights may trump (verb) whose.

2 minutes ago, JerryM said:

Sure. But proving at trial is something else especially -- as acknowledged by the 'top' DoJ official -- there is no precedent as to whose rights may trump (verb) whose.

As I understand it, there was no precedent to derive 34 felonies from a few bookkeeping entries.

I think being sued for hundreds of dollars for understating the value of a property may have been unprecedented as well.

I believe it will come down to whether or not Lemon conspired with the "protestors" ahead of time and knew he was part of the plan, and if he actually participated.

Again, no outrage when the Biden DOJ was locking up journalists.

18 USC 248 a2 deals with religious freedom at a place of religious worship -- the overall heading for 18 U.S. Code § 248 is Freedom of access to clinic entrances and specifically mentions reproductive health.

Requests for home births are up, even among women with higher-risk pregnancies, and attendance at prenatal care checkups is down, said Dr. Erin Stevens, representing the Minnesota Chapter of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

The Minnesota Medical Association and other physician groups have held press conferences to warn that this presence is deterring patients from seeking life-saving care, including prenatal care and emergency services.

https://www.startribune.com/ice-immigration-minnesota-prevent-patients-health-medical-care-hospital-hcmc-hennepin-fairview/601566885

"ICE Out!,” “Hands Up, Don't Shoot!,” and “Stand Up, Fight Back!” while gesturing in an aggressive and hostile manner, which congregants and the pastor perceived as threats of violence and a potential prelude to a mass shooting.

There is absolutely no depth that Trump and his sycophants won't stoop to in order to justify legal action against their opponents, and it's just further proof that Trump is the polar opposite of a Law and Order president, as he has absolutely no respect for the rule of law and the way the legal system is supposed to work. It is about wanting to be king, and exacting vengeance on his perceived detractors.

This is such a sorry and horrific time for America, and Trump is precipitating the decline in such a dramatic manner.

****Trolling meme removed****

12 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

"ICE Out!,” “Hands Up, Don't Shoot!,” and “Stand Up, Fight Back!” while gesturing in an aggressive and hostile manner, which congregants and the pastor perceived as threats of violence and a potential prelude to a mass shooting.

There is absolutely no depth that Trump and his sycophants won't stoop to in order to justify legal action against their opponents, and it's just further proof that Trump is the polar opposite of a Law and Order president, as he has absolutely no respect for the rule of law and the way the legal system is supposed to work. It is about wanting to be king, and exacting vengeance on his perceived detractors.

This is such a sorry and horrific time for America, and Trump is precipitating the decline in such a dramatic manner.

Do you think the behavior of the "protestors" in the church is acceptable?

On 1/31/2026 at 7:45 AM, Yagoda said:

https://www.ms.now/news/read-full-text-don-lemon-indictment-pdf

The Indictment is set forth therein. Its a conspiracy indictment, and Lemon is named in numerous overt acts, of which only one need to be proved.

His defense with be the First Amendment of course. Im sure that we will have the legal pundits weighing in soon.

My opinion is that assuming the truth of the allegations, he has a major problem. He was not reporting, he was participating.

Realistically, the pastor should charge him with trespassing. I'm a First Amendment absolutist, but there are limits to where you can protest as well as where a reporter can venture. If it is private property and the pastor asked Lemon and the crowd disrupting his service to leave, then they committed trespassing.

I personally have a problem with people purposefully disrupting religious services as a form of "protest" because the disruption CAN and SHOULD be viewed as trampling on the First Amendment rights of religious practitioners and I also believe that tramples on their civil rights as well. It also violates the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, codified at 18 U.S.C. § 248. Specifically, subsection (a)(2) states:
"by force or threat of force or by physical obstruction, intentionally injures, intimidates or interferes with or attempts to injure, intimidate or interfere with any person lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship"

The key word is intimidate and interfere with any person lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship.

So the people who entered the church and "protested" will more than likely be charged - including Don Lemon. Imho - there needs to be a judicial object lesson. This behavior can't be allowed to stand in the United States.

1 hour ago, JerryM said:

Sure. But proving at trial is something else especially -- as acknowledged by the 'top' DoJ official -- there is no precedent as to whose rights may trump (verb) whose.

This very well could go to the SCOTUS.

I believe trespassing is a state charge. Have we heard anyone from the state wanting to bring trespassing charges? The state AG appears to be on the side of the "protestors".

1 minute ago, connda said:

This very well could go to the SCOTUS.

Seems extremely unlikely. In order to do that, they'd have to establish that Lemon participated in the protest, blurring the line with journalism. It won't get that far.

Just now, stevenl said:

Seems extremely unlikely. In order to do that, they'd have to establish that Lemon participated in the protest, blurring the line with journalism. It won't get that far.

Watching the video, it seems clear that Lemon was siding with the "protestors", and he made that clear in his discussion with the Pastor, as well as with leaders of the "protest." be Had he stayed outside, he'd be in good shape.

He was also advertising his website and attempting to monetize the situation which may blur the lines of the lines of "journalism" as well,

What about all the "protesters" that were not "journalists", do you think they should be prosecuted?

24 minutes ago, connda said:

This very well could go to the SCOTUS.

Only if the Government wins at a criminal trial and the defense appeals. If the fed DoJ loses, there is no appeal.

Rulings on pre-trial motions can be appealed by either side.

15 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

What about all the "protesters" that were not "journalists", do you think they should be prosecuted?

For trespassing maybe. The present charge is nonsense

25 minutes ago, stevenl said:

For trespassing maybe. The present charge is nonsense

That's what I thought, thanks for your honesty.

Do you support "protests" such as this?

3 hours ago, JerryM said:

A federal magistrate judge found the Trump administration lacked probable cause to arrest Lemon and several of other defendants under a federal statute that a top Justice Department official conceded had never been used in the context of a protest at a church before.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/don-lemon-arrested-federal-authorities-attorney-says-rcna256680

Always a good idea to rephrase the event to counter inherant biases.

Imagine if you will, Don Lemon clutching a bacon double cheeseburger storms a mosque with a violent gang of brainwashed (and unwashed) morons and start harrassing and assaulting the muslims praying inside.

Cool bananas or major booboo?

Exactly😅

11 minutes ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Imagine if you will,

I won't.

1 hour ago, connda said:

This very well could go to the SCOTUS.

Its a question of fact as to whether he was acting as a journalist or as a criminal conspiracist.

56 minutes ago, stevenl said:

For trespassing maybe. The present charge is nonsense

In what way?

Just now, JerryM said:

I won't.

Why not? Interfere with your preconceived notions?

1 hour ago, JerryM said:

Rulings on pre-trial motions can be appealed by either side.

Only the Govt can appeal on the adverse grant of a motion to dismiss on an interlocutory basis

3 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

Where was your outrage when the Biden DOJ was arresting and prosecuting journalists?

You got me there pal! I don't recall any outrage under Biden's DOJ as he was not arresting and prosecuting journalists in any great number, maybe Tim Burke is all that comes to mind, whereas the current administration has turned the DOJ into a weapon of mass destruction specifically designed to silence critics. Had you not noticed the difference?

4 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

Where was your outrage when the Biden DOJ was arresting and prosecuting journalists?

Give us break. You had Biden's DOJ publicly stating "Journalism is not a crime." whereas Trump 2.0 DOJ publicly labels certain media as "enemies" and "targets."

1 hour ago, stevenl said:

For trespassing maybe. The present charge is nonsense

And just like that, nonsensical charges are a bad thing again in the liberal world.

Im guessing when long expired misdemeanors were being jacked up into critical felonies by being linked to non specified other alleged "crimes" you let your outrage be known? Ahahaha who are we kidding🤣

8 minutes ago, Palatus said:

You got me there pal! I don't recall any outrage under Biden's DOJ as he was not arresting and prosecuting journalists in any great number, maybe Tim Burke is all that comes to mind, whereas the current administration has turned the DOJ into a weapon of mass destruction specifically designed to silence critics. Had you not noticed the difference?

Yeah, I see the difference, thanks.

8 minutes ago, Palatus said:

whereas the current administration has turned the DOJ into a weapon of mass destruction specifically designed to silence critics. Had you not noticed the difference?

Do you consider the Fanni Willis fiasco an attempt to silence?

1 minute ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

Give us break. You had Biden's DOJ publicly stating "Journalism is not a crime." whereas Trump 2.0 DOJ publicly labels certain media as "enemies" and "targets."

You're right of course.

2 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Why not? Interfere with your preconceived notions?

I don't do well-what-abouts.

6 minutes ago, JerryM said:

I don't do well-what-abouts.

Thats fine, what abouts are what critical thinkers do, but you are free to think anyway you like

17 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Thats fine, what abouts are what critical thinkers do, but you are free to think anyway you like

Thanks. Along with my pre-conceived notions.

On 1/31/2026 at 1:26 PM, Jingthing said:

The USA become more like Putin's Russia every day.

Russia is a great place. Have you actually ever been?