Minnesota Magistrate Declines Complaint Charging Don Lemon After St. Paul Church Protest

A federal magistrate judge in Minnesota declined to sign a criminal complaint that would have charged independent journalist Don Lemon in connection with a protest inside a St. Paul church, multiple sources told CBS News. The decision comes as Attorney General Pam Bondi visited Minnesota amid an intensified Justice Department response to ongoing demonstrations in the Twin Cities.

What Happened

Protesters entered Cities Church in St. Paul on Sunday after alleging that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official appeared to be acting as one of the congregation's pastors. The demonstration interrupted the Sunday service and led some congregants and families to leave. Don Lemon, the former CNN anchor who attended the protest, interviewed the pastor and said, "There's a Constitution and a First Amendment, and freedom of speech and freedom to assemble and protest."

Arrests and Charges

On Thursday morning, Attorney General Bondi announced the arrests of Chauntyll Louisa Allen, a St. Paul School Board member, and Nekima Levy Armstrong. A source familiar with the proceedings confirmed a magistrate judge approved charges against Allen and Armstrong. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Armstrong is being charged under 18 U.S.C. 241, a federal civil-rights statute that prohibits conspiracies to interfere with constitutionally protected rights, including the free exercise of religion.

Legal Pushback And Broader Context

Sources said the magistrate judge declined to sign a complaint against Lemon, though the Justice Department could pursue other charging avenues. One source told CBS News,

"The attorney general is enraged at the magistrate's decision."

The Justice Department has sought to surge prosecutorial and law enforcement resources to the area as protests and clashes with federal immigration officers continue.

Protests in the Twin Cities intensified after the Trump administration deployed thousands of ICE and Border Patrol agents to the region and have included calls for accountability in the death of Renee Good, a Minneapolis resident who was fatally shot by an ICE officer on Jan. 7.

Officials' Comments And Legal Signals

Harmeet Dhillon, identified in reporting as a Justice Department civil-rights official, publicly suggested Lemon could face charges for his role in disrupting the service, saying on the "Benny Show" that being a journalist "is not a badge or a shield that protects you from criminal consequences." Dhillon declined to comment when reached by CBS News.

Observers drew parallels to prior federal prosecutions in Washington, D.C., where prosecutors were urged to treat many cases as federal offenses. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui wrote in an Oct. 8, 2025 opinion that over an eight-week period since a crime-surge initiative began, the government moved to dismiss 21% of cases charged by criminal complaint — a sharp contrast with roughly 0.5% historically in that district.

Where This Leaves The Case

The magistrate's decision not to sign a complaint charging Lemon is a setback for prosecutors who have sought to bring federal charges related to the protest. Sources caution, however, that the matter may not be finished and that federal authorities could explore additional legal avenues.