Don Lemon will not face criminal charges following his coverage of an anti-ICE protest inside a Minneapolis church over the weekend.
A federal magistrate has refused to sign off on charges urged by the Department of Justice. Many had argued that Lemon and other protestors had run afoul of the FACE Act.
The FACE Act (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994) is a U.S. federal law that makes it a crime to use force, threats, or physical obstruction to interfere with someone obtaining or providing reproductive health services or exercising religious freedom at a place of worship.
Don Lemon has maintained that he was present at the demonstration as a journalist and not as a protester.
During a video of the protest published on YouTube, Lemon can be heard stating, “I’m just here photographing, I’m not part of the group… I’m a journalist.”
An attorney for Lemon, Abbe Lowell, shared that the lack of charges is in alignment with the First Amendment.
“The magistrate’s reported actions confirm the nature of Don’s First Amendment-protected work this weekend in Minnesota as a reporter,” said Lowell. “It was no different than what he has done for more than 30 years, reporting and covering newsworthy events on the ground and engaging in constitutionally protected activity as a journalist.
“Should the Department of Justice continue with a stunning and troubling effort to silence and punish a journalist for doing his job, Don will call out their latest attack on the rule of law and fight any charges vigorously and thoroughly in court,” Lowell concluded.
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