"Abbe Lowell, an attorney representing Lemon, said Lemon engaged in constitutionally protected activity. The magistrate's reported actions confirm the nature of Don's first amendment protected work this weekend in Minnesota as a reporter. It was no different than what he has done for more than 30 years, reporting and covering newsworthy events on the ground and engaging in constitutionally protected activity as a journalist, he said."
"Federal prosecutors can go before a magistrate judge to get them to determine there is probable cause for charges to begin a criminal case. A grand jury must then return an indictment within 30 days. It is extremely rare for a magistrate judge to reject charges, said Andrew Tessman, a former federal prosecutor. I really have not heard of it happen before, he said. Usually just because the prosecutor is usually very careful about alleging all the supporting facts that would support"
A federal magistrate judge declined to sign off on charges against Don Lemon related to a protest at Cities church in St. Paul. The magistrate's decision reportedly angered Attorney General Pam Bondi after Lemon attended and broadcast a service interruption by anti-ICE protesters. Protesters said they targeted the church because a pastor served as acting field director of a local ICE office, and two people were arrested. The Department of Justice did not immediately comment. Lemon's attorney, Abbe Lowell, called Lemon's actions constitutionally protected journalistic activity. Legal experts said magistrates rarely reject prosecutors' charge filings.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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