On January 18, protesters disrupted a service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, by chanting “Justice for Renee Good” and going after a pastor who worked with the local ICE office. Lemon went into the church to record the event, talking to protesters, churchgoers, and the pastor, while making it clear that he was not one of the activists. Prosecutors say he and eight other people worked together to scare churchgoers by blocking aisles and acting threateningly, which is against federal law that protects religious freedom.
On Thursday night, federal agents arrested Lemon in Los Angeles. They charged him with conspiracy against religious freedom and trying to hurt someone while they were practicing their religion, which could be a crime under the FACE Act. Attorney General Pam Bondi said that three other people were also arrested in connection with the “coordinated attack” on the church. On Friday, Lemon went to U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, where Judge Patricia Donahue let him go without bail.
Marilyn Bednarski, Lemon’s lawyer, said he plans to plead not guilty and fight the case hard, saying it is an overreach. There are rules in court that say you can’t talk to witnesses or co-defendants without a lawyer present. However, you could go to France in June. After he was released, Lemon wrote on social media, “I will not be silenced,” making the arrest seem like an attack on journalism.
