Federal authorities have arrested three additional people in connection with anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agitators storming a Minnesota church after former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested.
“At my direction, early this morning, federal agents arrested Don Lemon, Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Lydell Lundy, in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said on X, adding that more details would be released “soon.”
In an affidavit obtained by Fox News, a Homeland Security Investigations special agent stated that on the morning of Sunday, Jan. 18, “a group of approximately 30-40 agitators, working together in a coordinated manner,” entered the Cities Church in St. Paul during a religious service and engaged in conduct that “disrupted the religious service and intimidated, harassed, oppressed, and terrorized the parishioners, including young children, and caused the service to be cut.
The day following the incident, one victim told the FBI that they “expressed fear that the agitators may have guns underneath their jackets,” and that when the agitators began shouting, all the parishioners could hear was “shoot,” according to the affidavit.
During an interview, another victim “informed agents that members of their parish attempted to retrieve their children from the childcare area located downstairs, but the agitators were blocking the stairs, and the parents were unable to get to their children,” it continued.
That victim “recalled one agitator was threatening, aggressive, and intimidating towards parishioners,” according to the affidavit.
At the time of the interview, another victim “informed agents that members of their parish attempted to retrieve their children from the childcare area located downstairs, but the agitators were blocking the stairs, and the parents were unable to get to their children,” he said.
Abbe Lowell, Lemon’s attorney, stated that the former CNN anchor was arrested in Los Angeles while covering the Grammy Awards.
“Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done,” Lowell said in a statement. “The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable. There is no more important time for people like Don to be doing this work.”
“Instead of investigating the federal agents who killed two peaceful Minnesota protesters, the Trump Justice Department is devoting its time, attention and resources to this arrest, and that is the real indictment of wrongdoing in this case… Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court,” he added.
Earlier this month, Lemon livestreamed left-wing protesters storming St. Paul’s Cities Church, believing the pastor had assisted with ICE. Lemon stated that the First Amendment is all about “the freedom to protest.”
A federal magistrate judge earlier rejected the Justice Department’s initial accusation against Lemon.
While some have argued that the church storming is protected by the First Amendment, the Justice Department said immediately after the incident that it was investigating a potential violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.