Don Lemon faces judge who rejected DOJ's previous attempt to charge him with a crime

"Don Lemon arrived at the Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse flanked by his attorneys and husband. His arraignment on Friday unfolded before U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas L. Micko, the same judge who weeks earlier had rejected the Trump Department of Justice's attempt to move forward with criminal charges against the journalist. He pleaded "not guilty." The circumstances surrounding the case have turned it into a national test of press freedom."

"Lemon, a former CNN anchor who now works independently, appeared in federal court in St. Paul and entered a not guilty plea to federal civil rights and conspiracy charges tied to his coverage of a protest at a Minnesota church in January. The hearing brought him back before Micko after the judge's earlier refusal to approve the government's initial bid to proceed. That decision forced prosecutors to change course and seek a grand jury indictment."

Don Lemon appeared at the Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse flanked by attorneys and his husband and entered a not guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas L. Micko. The charges allege federal civil rights and conspiracy violations connected to his coverage of a January protest at a Minnesota church. Micko had earlier declined to approve a proposed criminal complaint for insufficient probable cause, prompting prosecutors to obtain a grand jury indictment. A large media contingent and protesters gathered outside the courthouse chanting in defense of free speech and press freedom. Multiple judges previously rebuffed initial Justice Department efforts to charge Lemon and others.

Read at Advocate.com