DOJ Adds 30 Defendants in Minnesota Anti‑ICE Church Protest, Charging 39 Under FACE Act and Religious‑Rights Conspiracy
The DOJ unsealed a superseding indictment in the District of Minnesota charging 39 people in total over an anti‑ICE protest at a Minneapolis church, applying two civil‑rights counts — a misdemeanor under the FACE Act and a felony conspiracy to interfere with religious rights — to all defendants. Attorney General Pam Bondi said 25 of the 30 newly added defendants have been arrested with more arrests expected, and all nine original defendants, including former CNN anchor Don Lemon and another journalist, have pleaded not guilty.
📌 Key Facts
- The DOJ unsealed a superseding indictment in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota that adds 30 defendants, bringing the total charged to 39.
- The superseding filing applies two existing civil‑rights counts to all 39 defendants — a FACE Act misdemeanor and a felony conspiracy to interfere with religious rights — and does not add new types of charges.
- The charges stem from roles in an anti‑ICE protest at a Minnesota church.
- All nine original defendants, including former CNN anchor Don Lemon and another journalist, have pleaded not guilty.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi said 25 of the 30 newly added defendants have been arrested, with more arrests expected.
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February 27, 2026
6:50 PM
DOJ says 30 more defendants charged for roles in anti-ICE protest at Minnesota church
New information:
- Confirms DOJ has unsealed a superseding indictment in the District of Minnesota that now charges 39 people in total.
- Clarifies that the superseding filing does not add new types of charges but applies two existing civil-rights counts — a FACE Act misdemeanor and a felony conspiracy to interfere with religious rights — to all 39 defendants.
- Notes explicitly that all original nine defendants, including former CNN anchor Don Lemon and another journalist, have pleaded not guilty.
- Reiterates Attorney General Pam Bondi’s statement that 25 of the 30 newly added defendants have already been arrested, with more arrests expected.