Former CNN anchor Don Lemon claims that his actions, and those of the leftist protesters who followed him into a church to disrupt Sunday services, were protected under First Amendment press freedom and freedom of speech. Lemon ignores the fact that parishioners also have a right to attend worship without being harassed or disturbed.

Leftist activists have frequently used tactics such as cowbells and horns to drown out conservative speakers, reflecting a belief that their right to make noise supersedes another person’s right to speak. In this case, however, it is especially appalling that they claim a right to protest that overrides people’s right to worship God.

Lemon was arrested on January 30, 2026, and charged with federal crimes related to an anti-ICE protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, on January 18, 2026. A federal grand jury indicted Lemon and eight others on charges of conspiracy against the rights of religious freedom at a place of worship and interfering with the exercise of religious freedom at a place of worship.

The charges stem from alleged violations of the FACE Act, which protects the right to exercise religious freedom without injury, intimidation, or interference.

The protest, called Operation Pullup, was organized by activist Nekima Levy Armstrong and targeted Pastor David Easterwood, who also serves as an ICE field office director. Prosecutors allege the demonstration was planned as a coordinated disruption of the church service. According to the indictment, protesters shouted, blew whistles, and interrupted the sermon, intimidating congregants and interfering with worship.

Prosecutors characterize the event as a takeover-style attack and allege Lemon knowingly joined the group, participated in planning elements, and helped obstruct congregants and the pastor during the service.

Lemon was arrested late at night in Los Angeles while covering the Grammy Awards, appeared in federal court on January 31, and was released on his own recognizance without posting bond. Prosecutors had sought a $100,000 bond and travel restrictions, but the judge denied both requests. Lemon has not entered a plea, though his attorneys say he will plead not guilty. His next hearing is scheduled for February 9 in Minneapolis.

The case revives charges that a federal magistrate judge had rejected the previous week for insufficient evidence. Minnesota Chief U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz previously wrote that Lemon and his producer were not protesters and that there was no evidence they engaged in criminal behavior or conspired to do so. Attorney General Pam Bondi later directed federal agents to arrest Lemon following the magistrate judge’s decision.

Civil liberties groups, press freedom organizations, and Democratic officials criticized the arrests as an attempt to chill journalism and dissent. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison called the arrests deeply troubling, while national press organizations warned the case could set a dangerous precedent for First Amendment protections for journalists covering protests.

The FACE Act charges against Lemon carry particular irony given the law’s legislative history. The FACE Act was introduced in 1993 by Democrats Chuck Schumer and Ted Kennedy to protect abortion clinics from violent anti-abortion protesters. Republicans and religious groups opposed the bill, arguing it was one-sided and targeted only pro-life activists.

Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah proposed an amendment extending the bill’s protections to those exercising their right to pray at a house of worship. Hatch said the amendment would ensure religious liberty received the same protection the bill gave abortion access, arguing that anyone who opposed the amendment valued religious freedom less than abortion.

The amendment made the law content-neutral by protecting access to both medical and spiritual services. Ted Kennedy accepted the amendment without objection, and Democrats agreed to it to secure the votes needed for passage.

The Senate passed the bill 69–30, with 17 Republicans voting in favor, and President Clinton signed it into law on May 26, 1994. Between 1994 and 2024, the Justice Department brought 211 FACE Act cases, 205 of them against pro-life activists. The religious worship provision remained largely dormant for nearly 30 years until the Trump administration began using it in 2025–2026.

The charges against Don Lemon rely on the Republican-led amendment. The Justice Department argues that by participating in a protest that disrupted a church service, Lemon violated the portion of the law that prohibits physical obstruction interfering with any person lawfully exercising the First Amendment right to religious freedom at a place of worship.

The post After Church Invasion, Don Lemon Arrested Under Law Democrats Wrote to Protect Abortion Clinics appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Civil War 2 – The Gathering Storm Guest post by John L. Kachelman, Jr. Resorting to familiar attacks against President Trump, Tim Walz repeatedly declares Minnesota is at “war against … Read more

The post JOHN L. KACHELMAN, JR.: Civil War 2 – The Gathering Storm appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

President Trump, once again, highlighted the massive theft and fraud of welfare programs by Somali aliens this morning, slamming Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Rep. Ilhan Omar of Somalia, calling for her deportation. 

“Omar and her absolutely terrible friends from Somalia should all be in jail right now or, far worse, send them back to Somalia,” Trump said.

This comes after Trump sent Tom Homan to Minneapolis to deal with Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.

However, on Tuesday after meeting with Homan, the Minnesota Governor laid out demands for “swift, significant reduction” in federal agents deployed to Minnesota, and “an end to the campaign of retribution.” Earlier, Walz had already taken a victory lap before meeting with Homan, declaring in an interview that what he described as a “massive organized nonviolent resistance” forced the Trump Administration to back down, a win for the radical thugs rioting in the streets of Minnesota.

Mayor Frey, who previously told ICE to “get the f*ck out of Minneapolis,” doubled down on his refusal to cooperate with the federal government, announcing on social media, “I shared with Mr. Homan the serious negative impacts this operation has had on Minneapolis and surrounding communities, as well as the strain it has placed on our local police officers.” Frey added, “I also made it clear that Minneapolis does not and will not enforce federal immigration laws, and that we will remain focused on keeping our neighbors and streets safe.”

Homan later announced that he plans to “draw down on the number of people” from ICE and CBP stationed in Minneapolis. Homan told reporters that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison had agreed to do the bare minimum and hand over illegal aliens from their prisons and jails instead of releasing them back into the community.

“Attorney General Keith Ellison clarified for me that county jails may notify ICE of the release dates of criminal public safety risks so ICE can take custody of them, upon their release from the jail,” Homan said. This is great if you trust Minnesota officials.

But Trump highlighted another glaring issue in Minnesota, slamming Tim Walz and Somali-born fraudster, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN).

“The Theft and Fraud in Minnesota is far greater than the 19 Billion Dollars originally projected,” Trump said.

“‘Governor’ Waltz is either the most CORRUPT government official in history, or the most INCOMPETENT. Even a very low IQ person, of which there are many, should have known what was going on in Minnesota!!!”

Full statement below:

The Theft and Fraud in Minnesota is far greater than the 19 Billion Dollars originally projected. The Biden Administration knew this FRAUD was happening, and did absolutely nothing about it. “Scammer” Illhan Omar and her absolutely terrible friends from Somalia should all be in jail right now or, far worse, send them back to Somalia. “Governor” Waltz is either the most CORRUPT government official in history, or the most INCOMPETENT. Even a very low IQ person, of which there are many, should have known what was going on in Minnesota!!! President DJT

As The Gateway Pundit reported, the President said in a statement earlier this week, “a major investigation is going on with respect to the massive 20 Billion Dollar, Plus, Welfare Fraud that has taken place in Minnesota, and is at least partially responsible for the violent organized protests going on in the streets.”

He further noted that Omar is under investigation by House Republicans, probing how she went from low-IQ Somali to multi-millionaire while serving in Congress. Omar, whose community has stolen billions of dollars from the American people, has reportedly gone from being worth  $51,000 in 2023 to as much as $30 million now.

MORE:

JUST IN: Trump Says He’s Sending Tom Homan to Minnesota TONIGHT as “Major Investigation” into Welfare Fraud and Ilhan Omar Underway

The post JUST IN: “Send them Back to Somalia” – Trump Calls for “Scammer” Ilhan Omar’s Deportation, Slams Tim Walz Over Somali Fraud in Minnesota appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Cringe woke Pop superstar Lady Gaga paused her concert at Tokyo Dome on January 29, 2026, to deliver an over emotional address condemning Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations currently targeting communities across America. “My heart is aching thinking about the people – the children, the families, all over America – who are being mercilessly targeted by ICE,” Gaga said to the audience, acknowledging that “we’re not in America right now, but we are with our community.”

The singer specifically referenced Minnesota, where Operation Metro Surge has deployed approximately 3,000 federal agents, and dedicated her song “Come to Mama” to those she claimed are suffering and isolated due to immigration enforcement actions. Gaga called for a return “to a place of safety, peace, and accountability,” urging audiences to stand in solidarity even from across the globe.

Meanwhile, on the same day, U.S. Border Czar Tom Homan announced plans to significantly reduce federal immigration enforcement personnel in Minneapolis, claiming they will “draw down,” following meetings with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. “The withdrawal of law enforcement resources here is dependent upon cooperation,” Homan stated, noting that “massive changes” are coming to the city as ICE and Customs and Border Protection officials work on a drawdown plan.

Homan acknowledged that Operation Metro Surge “has not been perfect” and acknowledged that the operation “causes stress in the community,” though he did not specify a timeline for the complete withdrawal of the 3,000-agent force. The shift in strategy comes following national smears over the operation, which has resulted in the deaths of two agitators killed by federal agents and has drawn criticism from state and local officials. Homan emphasized that the administration is “not abandoning the president’s immigration enforcement agenda,” but will pivot to “targeted, strategic enforcement operations” focused on individuals with prior criminal records.

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President Trump on Friday gave a strong defense of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as the left and Democratic lawmakers call for her ouster and scheme to impeach her following the midterm elections. 

This comes after the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two violent rioters in Minneapolis who attacked federal law enforcement.

“The Radical Left Lunatics, Insurrectionists, Agitators, and Thugs, are going after Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, because she is a woman, and has done a really GREAT JOB!” Trump said, reiterating his support for Noem as DHS Secretary.

“The Border disaster that I inherited is fixed, the violent criminals that were allowed into our Country through Sleepy Joe’s “sick” Open Border Policy, are largely gone, or being strongly sought for purposes of removal, and the Murder Rate in the USA just reached the lowest level in history, 125 years! Washington, D.C., is now one of the safest cities in America – Likewise, numerous other once very dangerous cities!”

Trump further slammed the “Crooked Democrats, who are stealing Billions of Dollars from Minnesota, and other Cities and States from all over the Country,” telling Republicans not to let them “push you around.”

“They are using this aggressive protest SCAM to obfuscate, camouflage, and hide their CRIMINAL ACTS of theft and insurrection. They should all be in jail. I was elected on Strong Borders, and Law and Order, among many other things,” Trump added, thanking Kristi Noem for helping to secure America’s borders.

Full statement below:

The Radical Left Lunatics, Insurrectionists, Agitators, and Thugs, are going after Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, because she is a woman, and has done a really GREAT JOB! The Border disaster that I inherited is fixed, the violent criminals that were allowed into our Country through Sleepy Joe’s “sick” Open Border Policy, are largely gone, or being strongly sought for purposes of removal, and the Murder Rate in the USA just reached the lowest level in history, 125 years! Washington, D.C., is now one of the safest cities in America – Likewise, numerous other once very dangerous cities!

Republicans, don’t let these Crooked Democrats, who are stealing Billions of Dollars from Minnesota, and other Cities and States from all over the Country, push you around. They are using this aggressive protest SCAM to obfuscate, camouflage, and hide their CRIMINAL ACTS of theft and insurrection. They should all be in jail. I was elected on Strong Borders, and Law and Order, among many other things. Thank you to Secretary Kristi Noem. Remember, ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES!!! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP

Earlier this week, Trump responded to calls for Noem to resign or be fired amid the chaos in Minnesota, shutting down a reporter at the White House with a resounding “No.”

“I think she’s doing a very good job,” Trump added.

“The border is totally secure,” the President said. “You forget, we had a border that I inherited where millions of people were coming through. Now, we have a border where no one is coming through.”

MORE:

WATCH: Trump Gives One-Word Answer to Calls for Him to Fire DHS Secretary Kristi Noem

The post Trump Defends Kristi Noem from “Radical Left Lunatics, Insurrectionists, Agitators, and Thugs” – “ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES!!!” appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.