Former CNN anchor and independent journalist Don Lemon entered a plea of not guilty to two federal charges in a St. Paul, Minnesota, federal court on Friday in connection with a January protest that disrupted a church service, as reported by Reuters.
Mr. Lemon is accused of one count of conspiracy against the rights of the public under 18 U.S.C. 241 and another count under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act provision that protects access to places of worship. The case revolves around whether Lemon was simply reporting the event as a journalist, as his legal team claims, or whether he engaged in conduct that bordered on intimidation and obstruction.
The charges are related to the January 18th disruption at the Cities Church in St. Paul. According to the affidavit, the St. Paul police were contacted multiple times on January 18th at about 10:40 a.m. by churchgoers who reported that there were 20 to 40 people chanting and disrupting the service. The police, responding to the incident, observed the protesters leaving the church and chanting outside the church for about 30 minutes before they left the scene, according to the affidavit. The police documents indicate that the church staff wanted the incident documented and stated that they wanted to press charges if the people involved could be identified.
The federal investigators, after reviewing the video footage of the church’s broadcast and other videos, claim that Lemon was inside the church during the disruption of the service, documenting the scene on his phone and at times chanting with the protesters, according to the affidavit. The affidavit also indicates instances of the protesters physically impeding the movements of the churchgoers and clergy.
Lemon is one of the nine defendants listed in the case. Lemon has denied the charges and stated that he was present at the scene to cover the protest.
Chauntyll Allen and Nekima Levy Armstrong and two others activists also pleaded not guilty during Friday’s hearing.
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