Justice Department Charges 3 Journalists in Church Disruption Case, Exposing Them to 10 Years
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 27
Justice Department Charges 3 Journalists in Church Disruption Case, Exposing Them to 10 Years
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 27
Summary
Don Lemon, Georgia Fort and Junn Bollmann were charged over a Jan. 18 church disruption in St. Paul, with the counts carrying a combined potential sentence of 10 years or more.
Federal prosecutors say the three joined demonstrators who entered Cities Church during a service and conspired to violate parishioners' religious freedom; dozens of protesters also face charges.
Lemon, a former CNN anchor now on YouTube, said he was there only as a journalist, interviewing people on all sides and livestreaming the event.
The case tests the gap between strong First Amendment protection for published journalism and weaker protection for newsgathering when reporters are accused of participating in alleged crimes.