Journalist Don Lemon promises to fight federal charges following his arrest after Minnesota church protest | CNN Politics
www.cnn.com
A defiant Don Lemon vowed to fight the charges brought against him by federal prosecutors Friday, after he and another independent journalist were arrested in connection with a protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
  • fakero@lemmy.worldEnglish
    121·
    3 days ago

    It is highly unusual for the Justice Department to criminally charge a reporter, though it is not without precedent. Those cases are heavily scrutinized before the decision to bring charges is made, and often face extended legal battles over whether the reporter is protected by the First Amendment before the case makes it to trial.

    I’m gonna go ahead and say its not even going to make it to trial considering the clown show currently going on at the Justice Department.

    • jaysrapsleafs@piefed.caEnglish
      7·
      3 days ago

      I think even the dumbass trump doj know this. Its part of their playbook to push the norms and keep getting away with it as they implement their temu fascism.

      • jballs@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        3·
        3 days ago

        Legal Eagle had a good take on this a few days ago. The Trump admin is relying purely on sensational headlines. They just want to make the news saying an arrest has been made and also to post pictures on social media. They don’t actually care if it gets thrown out before trial, because the intimidation works even without a conviction.

  • doingthestuff@lemy.lolEnglish
    12·
    3 days ago

    I’m a big 1st Amendment advocate, all five elements are important to me. Journalists are arrested pretty often, although they’re not usually as well-known as Don Lemon is. Sometimes they’re arrested wrongfully because they broke no laws and they win in court. Sometimes they did break the law and they’re convicted. I don’t know all of the details about Don Lemon here, like for example whether or not the church asked them all to leave. But even if not, it is very possible he broke the law and could be convicted.

    • Madison420@lemmy.world
      41·
      2 days ago

      “I didn’t do any research but here’s my uniformed opinion on why this isn’t as bad as it sounds.”

      • doingthestuff@lemy.lolEnglish
        03·
        2 days ago

        I know a lot about the first amendment, I’ve been watching legal analysis for years. There’s really no question he committed a federal crime. I’m unclear whether or not there are additional crimes. Can you tell me why you think he didn’t?

        • Madison420@lemmy.world
          21·
          2 days ago

          What federal crime exactly, be specific in your admittedly uneducated bullshit.

          Keep in mind you already said you didn’t know much about this particular situation.

          • doingthestuff@lemy.lolEnglish
            02·
            2 days ago

            The 1984 FACE act was written to protect abortion clinics from disruption but in order to pass it, they added protection for churches. This was a clear violation. I admitted there were details I didn’t know. That is a far cry from knowing nothing, and also it is honest. Will you be honest about what you do or do not know?

            • Madison420@lemmy.world
              11·
              2 days ago

              I don’t know that’s why I asked you what crime she is guilty of because you’re speaking like you know even after admitting you didn’t read anything about it.

              • doingthestuff@lemy.lolEnglish
                01·
                1 day ago

                You’re engaging in terrible misrepresentation of what I said, which is expected. You’re a piece of shit. I admitted to not knowing everything. How could I? I’m not privy to unreleased info, I’m not part of the investigative team. You take that and say I said I admitted I didn’t read anything? Seriously fuck you with a mop handle.

                • Madison420@lemmy.world
                  1·
                  1 day ago

                  There’s really no question he committed a federal crime. I’m unclear whether or not there are additional crimes.

                  I haven’t misrepresented anything but in do love summer ad hominem.

    • jacksilver@lemmy.world
      0·
      3 days ago

      The alarming element is that a judge had already rejected the charges - source

      As has been seen repeatedly with this administration, they will keep harping on the DOJ to do illegal things, like with the Comey case where they illegally installed an AG cause everyone else wasn’t willing to touch the case.

    • elbucho@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      3 days ago

      Wait - we all agreed last Tuesday that Don Lemon’s protection was YOUR job. Why’d you allow them to take him, Frobozz? Were you sleeping on the job, or did they pay you off?

      • Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works
        1·
        3 days ago

        I highly suspect the people trying to paint my entire country as complicit with Trump are paid agitators.

        I just can’t wrap my head around people being this stupid otherwise.

        • stylusmobilus@aussie.zone
          01·
          3 days ago

          paid agitators

          Or people who understand that what’s going on is a collective responsibility.

          wrap my head around…

          Neither can we. We told them to vote repeatedly, which is the easy way out, but they’ll never learn. He even gave them a trial run and they put him in again.

          It’s a collective responsibility. The US is where it is because they refuse to do their national duty and vote. So yeah, this is on the country.

    • FreshParsnip@lemmy.ca
      3·
      3 days ago

      I’m Canadian. Am I responsible every time the police in Canada arrest people for breaking laws I disagree with?

      • WizardofFrobozz@lemmy.ca
        03·
        2 days ago

        I am also Canadian- and we are both responsible for ensuring we don’t get to that point. Americans are armed to the teeth and thus have fewer excuses, however.

        • FreshParsnip@lemmy.ca
          3·
          2 days ago

          So there are currently no laws you disagree with in Canada? You agree with every arrest police make and will otherwise stop them?

          • WizardofFrobozz@lemmy.ca
            03·
            2 days ago

            I just realized you’re doing the MAGA thing where you frame what’s happening in the US as a difference of opinion. We’re done here.

            • FreshParsnip@lemmy.ca
              2·
              2 days ago

              The fuck are you talking about? I know what’s happening in America is fucked up. Check my comment history. I just think it’s ridiculous to hold every American responsible for every arrest in the country. It would be like holding you or I responsible for every arrest in Canada. Some kid got arrested for underage drinking even though pretty much everyone does it? YOU allowed it to happen

    • MountingSuspicion@reddthat.com
      4·
      3 days ago

      Exactly this! Why were you not all camped out outside his house and accompanying him to the restroom?! You should be at every protest, and journalists home, and journalists work, and checks notes at their hotel while they’re covering the Grammys, simultaneously or you’re failing your country!

      This is a bad take. You can’t stop someone from being taken into police custody. It’s a great way to get shot and accomplish nothing. This is the actual cops, not an ice raid.

        • Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works
          0·
          3 days ago

          Yes but the statements agitators and those seeking to divide all of us who stand against Trump are always insisting “Americans” or many even say “All Americans”.

          These people are traitors to humanity. They stand with Trump’s propaganda wing whether they like it or not.

          • Damage@feddit.it
            01·
            3 days ago

            We’re just all appalled at seeing America slide into… whatever it’s becoming with seemingly no resistance. It’s very unsettling.