The Justice Department’s initial attempt to charge the journalist Don Lemon for being at an anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protest in Minnesota ran into a legal hurdle. A magistrate judge in St. Paul declined to approve a complaint against the journalist, despite the prosecution’s efforts to hold Don Lemon accountable for being at a protest event that briefly disrupted a church service the previous week. This comes at a time when tensions are running high in the Twin Cities regarding the immigration policies pursued by the Trump administration.Don Lemon, the former CNN news anchor, now works as an independent journalist, and he was part of the protesters and journalists who entered the Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, on the Sunday when protesters clashed with the congregation and exchanged heated arguments. The authorities had indicated that they wanted to charge him, but the judge has now cleared him, and he will not face any charges.Justice Department effort to charge Don LemonThe news spread quickly, partly because it is uncommon for the Justice Department to pursue charges against a journalist for engaging in on-ground reporting. The authorities contended that Don Lemon being part of anti-ICE protesters who disrupted the service in an effort to point out an Immigration and Customs Enforcement worker whom they believed had ties with the church had violated the law. However, the judge did not find probable cause for approving the complaint.In addition, Lemon has been saying that he was only performing his duties as a journalist, reporting on the protest and engaging in conversations with the protestors as well as church members. For instance, in his post, he stated that what he was doing inside the church was reporting, not participating in the protest. Moreover, his legal team stated that the First Amendment rights apply to him, arguing that what he did was similar to other reporting on controversial issues.The story became viral because it relates to the issue of freedom of the press and the extent that journalists should take when covering protests that turn into confrontations. Lemon’s advocates claimed that several journalists have been embedding with the protesters while covering the stories, and that charging a journalist for doing that would have serious implications.However, the reactions on the Internet were mixed. While some praised the judge's ruling as a victory for freedom of the press, others were critical of the appearance by Lemon, who they felt did not come as a reporter alone. The appearance by Lemon triggered a wider conversation on social media regarding the position of the media in highly polarized political situations. The broader legal process for the church protest case in Minnesota. In Minnesota, the broader legal process for the church protest case continues. While the Department of Justice arrested other activists in connection with the case, it could have other legal remedies, such as indicting Lemon with a grand jury. In any case, the judge’s denial represents a rare check against the initial efforts of the Justice Department.