MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A former federal prosecutor who quit amid a dispute with the Trump administration is now representing former CNN host Don Lemon, one of nine individuals indicted for allegedly disrupting a service at a Minnesota church where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official served as pastor.
A recent court filing reveals that Lemon has employed Joe Thompson, a former interim U.S. Attorney, who had led significant fraud prosecutions in Minnesota until his resignation last month. This shift in representation comes amid increasing frustration within the U.S. Attorney's office regarding the administration's immigration enforcement policies and its handling of fatal officer-involved shootings in Minneapolis.
Lemon previously indicated through another attorney that he intends to plead not guilty to federal civil rights charges relating to his coverage of the church protest. He asserts he did not participate in the disruption but was present as an independent journalist. The indictment outlines various actions taken by the protest group that entered the church, including remarks made by Lemon during his live coverage.
Lemon is set to be arraigned on February 13 in federal court in St. Paul.
The Trump administration has cited cases of fraud, particularly involving members of the Somali community in Minnesota, as justification for its rigorous immigration policy enforcement. Thompson estimated that losses from the fraud cases being prosecuted could reach $9 billion, underscoring the administration's crackdown in the state. Recently, Thompson has established his law firm partnering with Harry Jacobs, another former federal prosecutor who also resigned amid the upheaval.
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