A defiant Don Lemon publicly celebrated after avoiding immediate arrest following his involvement in a controversial incident at a St. Paul church earlier this week. The former CNN host appeared emboldened, seemingly anticipating further legal challenges from the Justice Department.
Lemon, along with seven others, had been charged by the Trump Justice Department for allegedly storming Cities Church in Minnesota. However, a magistrate judge unexpectedly dismissed the charges against him, a decision that has raised serious questions about potential conflicts of interest.
The magistrate who rejected the arrest warrant, Douglas L. Micko, has a connection that fuels accusations of impropriety: his wife is an Assistant Attorney General working under Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. This revelation has sparked concerns about the impartiality of the legal proceedings.
On Thursday evening, Lemon took to social media, openly relishing the moment and predicting further attempts to prosecute him. He even appeared to embrace the possibility of being portrayed as a political martyr, daring the Trump Administration to escalate the situation.
In a provocative statement, Lemon challenged the administration to attempt to transform him into “the next Jimmy Kimmel,” suggesting he was unafraid of public scrutiny or further legal battles. He insisted he would not be silenced or deterred from his work as a journalist.
“I stand proud, and I stand tall,” Lemon declared. “They’re gonna try again, and they’re gonna try again, and guess what? Here I am. Keep trying.” He maintained that the situation wasn’t about justice, but about a power play by “incompetent” individuals.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon responded to Lemon’s challenge with a succinct “Okay,” signaling that the Justice Department is prepared to pursue the case further. This suggests Lemon’s reprieve may be temporary.
The incident began when Lemon livestreamed as protestors, opposing ICE, entered the church, confronting the pastor who was reportedly connected to the agency. He actively documented the disruption, as protestors shouted down the pastor and harassed those attending the service.
Lemon admitted to having prior knowledge of the planned disruption, revealing he was embedded with the protestors and Black Lives Matter activist Nekima Armstrong. He described the event as “the beginning of what’s going to happen here,” hinting at further actions.
Armstrong was subsequently arrested by the FBI and charged with Conspiracy Against Rights, a serious federal crime carrying a potential ten-year prison sentence. The unfolding events continue to draw intense scrutiny and raise questions about the boundaries of protest and journalistic involvement.
