Don Lemon pleads not guilty in court over Minnesota church protest charges: Details explored

Following his arrest last month, former CNN journalist Don Lemon appeared in court on Friday and pleaded not guilty to the federal charges of conspiring to violate a person's constitutional rights and violating the FACE Act. The Act prohibits intimidation of “any person by force, threat of force, or physical obstruction exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship” and has a fine of up to a year in prison and up to a $10,000 fine if violated.

Last month, while in Los Angeles to cover the Grammys, Lemon was arrested. At the time, his attorney, Abbe Lowell, explained,

"Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done. The first amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable."

While Don Lemon told reporters after his arrest,

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"I have spent my entire career covering the news. I will not stop now. In fact, there is no more important time than right now, this very moment for a free and independent media that shines a light on the truth and holds those in power accountable."

Don Lemon did not give the reporters any comments while entering the courthouse. Along with him, four others have also pleaded not guilty. Lemon was present at the church as a journalist and not an activist, chronicling. Though a magistrate judge rejected the charges against him due to a lack of sufficient evidence, the judge asked the prosecutors to take the case to a grand jury.

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