Attorney General Pam Bondi warned Friday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is prepared to pursue legal action against individuals who disrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, including the possibility of charges against former CNN host Don Lemon.
Bondi made the remarks during an appearance on Fox News, saying the DOJ will aggressively enforce laws protecting houses of worship and the people inside them.
“If you protested and went into that church on Sunday, and you terrorized the parishioners, we are coming after you,” Bondi said. “I don’t care who you are. If you’re a failed CNN journalist, you have no right to do that in this country.”
The comments stem from a Jan. 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, where activists entered the sanctuary during a worship service, chanted slogans, and disrupted congregants. The protest targeted the church’s pastor, whom demonstrators accused of having ties to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Federal officials and religious leaders condemned the disruption, arguing the protest crossed legal lines and violated protections for religious freedom.
Bondi emphasized that no one is exempt from prosecution, regardless of status or media profile.
“We don’t live in a third-world country,” she said. “We’re going to protect our houses of worship in this country.”
The DOJ confirmed that three individuals connected to the protest were arrested this week.
They were identified as Nekima Levy Armstrong, Chauntyll Louisa Allen, and William Kelly. Charging documents have not yet been publicly released, though a federal judge ordered them unsealed after determining the suspects were not flight risks.
Don Lemon, who attended the protest and livestreamed portions of it, has not been charged. A federal magistrate judge previously declined to approve a complaint against him, effectively blocking charges at that stage.
Bondi made clear the department is not backing down, per the Conservative Brief.
“We will remain mobilized to prosecute federal crimes,” she said, indicating prosecutors are exploring alternative legal options.
Lemon has defended his actions, claiming he was acting as a journalist covering a newsworthy event for his independent platform. He has accused the DOJ of political retaliation and challenged officials to pursue charges.
“I stand proud, and I stand tall,” Lemon said during a recent broadcast. “They’re going to try again. Go ahead. Make me into the next example. I’m not going anywhere.”
His comments drew a brief response from Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon, who replied to Lemon’s remarks with a single word: “Okay.”
The DOJ says its investigation remains active and is reviewing potential civil rights and obstruction violations related to the church disruption.
As tensions remain high following weeks of unrest in Minnesota, Bondi’s warning signals that federal prosecutors are prepared to escalate enforcement against what the administration describes as coordinated agitator activity, even when it involves high-profile media figures.
