Feb 27 (Reuters) – The U.S. Justice Department on Friday charged 30 more people accused of disrupting a Minnesota church service last month in protest of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operation.
The indictment vastly increases the scope of a criminal case that also includes former CNN anchor Don Lemon, one of nine people initially charged in the case. All 39 defendants are charged with conspiracy against the right of religious worship and violating a law that forbids obstructing access to houses of worship.
“At my direction, federal agents have already arrested 25 of them, with more to come throughout the day,” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said on social media. “YOU CANNOT ATTACK A HOUSE OF WORSHIP. If you do so, you cannot hide from us — we will find you, arrest you, and prosecute you.”
Lemon and several others previously charged have pleaded not guilty. Lemon, now an independent journalist who livestreamed the demonstration, has argued the charges violate his free press rights under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya, Writing by Christian Martinez; Editing by Rod Nickel)
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