By Micah Jonah
January 25, 2026
A U.S. appeals court has rejected the Justice Department’s attempt to pursue charges against five additional people involved in a Minnesota church demonstration earlier this month. The protest disrupted a service over the pastor’s alleged ties to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to force a lower court to approve the warrants. A federal magistrate had previously rejected the proposed charges for the five individuals, including former CNN anchor Don Lemon, citing insufficient evidence. The court had approved charges against three demonstrators Nekima Levy Armstrong, Chauntyll Louisa Allen, and William Kelly for conspiracy against rights, though it struck a proposed charge of physically obstructing the house of worship.
The case has drawn attention amid the Trump administration’s wider immigration crackdown in Minnesota, with the defendants accusing authorities of retaliation. While the appeals court ruled against immediate intervention, prosecutors may still seek approval through a grand jury or provide additional evidence to the magistrate judge.
Judge Patrick Schiltz described the Justice Department’s request as “unheard of” in the district, underscoring the unusual nature of the bid.
