Don Lemon’s Church Raid CRUMBLES — Key Witness Flips

A college student arrested for disrupting a St. Paul church service alongside former CNN host Don Lemon has turned on the disgraced journalist, exposing the media figure’s role in organizing an attack on religious freedom that federal authorities are now prosecuting under the FACE Act.

Story Highlights

Jerome Richardson, a Philadelphia student, arrested for participating in January 18 church disruption coordinated with Don Lemon
Richardson now cooperating with federal investigators, revealing Lemon’s involvement in organizing the protest targeting Pastor David Easterwood
Justice Department pursuing FACE Act violations as Attorney General Pam Bondi vows “full force of federal law” against attack on religious liberty
Cities Church congregation continues facing harassment weeks after protesters stormed Sunday worship service

Student Arrestee Cooperates With Federal Investigators

Jerome Richardson, a Philadelphia college student, faces federal charges after participating in the January 18 disruption of Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Richardson worked alongside former CNN host Don Lemon to coordinate the protest that saw 30-40 activists storm a Sunday morning worship service. Federal authorities arrested Richardson for allegedly violating the FACE Act, which prohibits using force, threats, or physical obstruction to interfere with religious services. Following his arrest, Richardson began cooperating with Justice Department investigators, providing details about Lemon’s role in organizing the church invasion that targeted Pastor David Easterwood.

Don Lemon’s Documented Role in Church Attack

Don Lemon livestreamed the January 18 church disruption and publicly defended the protesters’ actions, amplifying their message to his substantial social media following. The former CNN host’s involvement went beyond mere coverage, as he actively promoted the protesters’ characterization of the incident as exposing moral contradictions. Lemon’s livestream went viral on January 20, drawing national attention to the confrontation. His participation raises serious questions about media figures crossing the line from reporting to actively facilitating attacks on constitutional rights. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, led by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, is examining whether Lemon’s actions constitute conspiracy to violate federal law protecting religious worship.

Federal Prosecution Targets Religious Freedom Violations

Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized that any violation of federal law protecting religious services will be prosecuted with the full force of the Justice Department. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon characterized the church disruption as a “heinous act” receiving the “highest level of attention” from federal investigators. The FACE Act, originally enacted to protect abortion clinics from blockades, equally protects houses of worship from interference. This marks a significant test of whether the Trump administration will enforce religious freedom protections with the same vigor previous administrations applied to other contexts. Protest organizers Nekima Levy Armstrong and Chauntyll Louisa Allen have also been arrested on FACE Act charges.

Ongoing Harassment Compounds Constitutional Crisis

Cities Church attendees reported continued harassment in the two Sundays following the January 18 attack, with agitators allegedly confronting congregants entering the church. The National Religious Broadcasters condemned the disruption as “a premeditated attack” that “desecrated a sacred sanctuary, frightened families, harassed innocent believers, and directly challenged our constitutional right to worship without fear or coercion.” Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, described the incident as “unspeakably evil.” The targeting occurred amid heightened ICE enforcement in Minnesota, where protesters objected to Pastor Easterwood’s dual role as Cities Church pastor and acting St. Paul ICE field office director.

Despite facing intimidation, church members have maintained they will not harbor hatred toward protesters, emphasizing their commitment to love and pray for those who persecute them. This grace stands in stark contrast to the mob tactics employed by activists willing to violate federal law to advance their political agenda. The case represents a critical moment for religious freedom in America, testing whether houses of worship can function without fear of coordinated attacks from activists and their media allies who disagree with congregants’ professional duties or political views.