Lemon appeared in U.S. District Court in St. Paul before Magistrate Judge Douglas Micko, weeks after being arrested in Los Angeles. Supporters gathered outside the courthouse during the hearing, chanting, “Protect the press!”
Federal prosecutors charged Lemon in a two-count indictment alleging conspiracy against rights of religious freedom and attempting to injure, oppress or intimidate individuals while they were exercising their religious freedom. Eight other people were also charged in connection with the incident. Several co-defendants, including local activist Nekima Levy Armstrong, also entered not guilty pleas Friday.
Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, Lemon called the charges “baseless” and said he would fight them in court.
The case stems from a Jan. 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul. Demonstrators entered the church during a service, alleging that one of its pastors serves as acting field director of the local Immigration and Customs Enforcement office. Protesters chanted “Justice for Renee Good,” referencing a woman fatally shot earlier in January by a federal agent in Minneapolis.
According to the indictment, the nine defendants disrupted the service by occupying the main aisle and front seating area and engaging in what prosecutors described as threatening behavior. The document also alleges that Lemon physically obstructed congregants attempting to leave the church.
Lemon has denied wrongdoing and maintains he was present as an independent journalist covering the event. Video posted to his Instagram account on the day of the protest shows protesters chanting as well as interviews Lemon conducted with church members and demonstrators. In the video, Lemon stated that he was reporting on the protest and was not participating in it.
Court filings reveal that Magistrate Judge Douglas Micko initially declined to approve arrest warrants for Lemon and his producer, citing a lack of probable cause. Judge Patrick Schiltz, chief judge of the federal district court in Minnesota, later wrote to a federal appeals court that Lemon and his producer were “not protesters at all” and that there was no evidence they engaged in criminal conduct. He suggested prosecutors could present additional evidence or seek an indictment from a grand jury.
A grand jury later returned the indictment on Jan. 29, and Lemon was arrested the following day while covering the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. He was released after a bail hearing on his own recognizance.
Lemon is represented by former Minnesota U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson, according to court records. His attorney has argued that Lemon was performing constitutionally protected journalistic work at the time of the protest.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said on social media that the arrests of Lemon, Minnesota-based journalist Georgia Fort and others were made at her direction. Fort has not yet entered a formal plea and is scheduled to be arraigned next week. She has also stated that she was present solely in her capacity as a journalist.
At least three additional individuals were previously arrested in connection with the protest. Federal officials have emphasized that disruptions of places of worship will be prosecuted.
Lemon said after his initial arrest that he was being targeted for doing the same reporting work he has performed for decades. Citing First Amendment protections, he said he looks forward to presenting his case in court.
