The Trump administration is vowing to press forward with criminal charges against former CNN anchor Don Lemon despite a federal magistrates refusal to sign off on an indictment.
According to Sean Hannity, senior Justice Department official Harmeet Dhillon made clear that the administration will not be deterred by the courts initial hesitation. We are going to do it because thats what is required for justice here, Dhillon told SiriusXMs The Megyn Kelly Show, underscoring the administrations determination to enforce federal law even when it involves a prominent media figure.
Dhillon, who serves as assistant attorney general for civil rights, said the department is actively considering charges under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, a 1994 statute that also protects religious worship, along with potential conspiracy counts. She added that prosecutors believe they have already established the predicates for pursuing FACE Act and conspiracy charges, relying heavily on Lemons own public videos and statements.
Federal prosecutors, Dhillon said, moved aggressively and very rapidly after reviewing footage Lemon posted of himself during a Sunday protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where activists disrupted a worship service. According to Dhillon, DOJ teams were deployed to the ground, collected affidavits and other evidence, and leaned on what she described as Lemons admissions against interest in his own videos.
For 48 hours between the time that we sought these arrest warrants and the time that we were able to make arrests, Dhillon said, the department was effectively gagged from commenting publicly after a magistrate declined to approve part of the governments request. Stressing that accountability remains on the table, she warned, He is not out of legal jeopardy, adding, He has lawyered up. He has a prominent lawyer, and were going to pursue this to the ends of the Earth.
Login