From CBS News: A Minnesota federal magistrate judge refused to sign a complaint charging independent journalist Don Lemon in connection with a protest inside a church in St. Paul on Sunday, multiple sources familiar with the proceedings told CBS News.
“The attorney general is enraged at the magistrate’s decision,” said a source familiar with the matter. Attorney General Pam Bondi has been in Minnesota for two days, as the Justice Department has sought to surge prosecutorial and law enforcement resources there.
A different source stressed that the process is not over, and the Justice Department could find other avenues to charge Lemon.
So far on Thursday, Bondi has announced charges against three people in connection with the invasion of the church Sunday morning: Organizers Nekima Levy Armstrong and Chauntyll Louisa Allen, and activist William Kelly.
The judge reportedly signed off on the charges against those three, but refused to approve the charges against Lemon, who was also embedded in with the rioters and entered the church right along with them.
Lemon live-streamed the entire event, and even got into a confrontation with the pastor of the church. Lemon claimed he was only acting as a journalist.
Human Events host Jack Posobiec announced, “I am told the judge that refused to sign the criminal complaint against Don Lemon is Magistrate Judge Douglas Micko. His wife works for Keith Ellison as an Assistant AG and has anti-ICE posts on LinkedIn.”
NEW: I am told the judge that refused to sign the criminal complaint against Don Lemon is Magistrate Judge Douglas Micko
His wife works for Keith Ellison as an Assistant AG and has anti-ICE posts on LinkedIn pic.twitter.com/gI0PiFspX2
— Jack Posobiec (@JackPosobiec) January 22, 2026
Conservative independent journalist Nick Sortor reacted, writing, “BREAKING: A federal magistrate has REFUSED to sign off on the DOJ’s charges against Don Lemon, per multiple reports. Just another activist judge running cover for leftists! There are SEVERAL other avenues AG Bondi can take to charge Lemon, and she intends to take them, per CBS. LOCK HIM UP!”
🚨 BREAKING: A federal magistrate has REFUSED to sign off on the DOJ’s charges against Don Lemon, per multiple reports
Just another activist judge running cover for leftists!
There are SEVERAL other avenues AG Bondi can take to charge Lemon, and she intends to take them, per… pic.twitter.com/Pul7lXdMdk
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 22, 2026
NEWS: A Minnesota magistrate judge refused to sign a complaint charging ex CNN anchor Don Lemon in connection with a church protest, sources tell CBS News.
A source stressed the DOJ could find other ways to charge Lemon.
W/ @JenniferJJacobs @SarahNLynch https://t.co/hlluwCmgZo
— Camilo Montoya-Galvez (@camiloreports) January 22, 2026
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