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Two New Arrests Made in St. Paul Church Incident
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Monday that federal agents arrested two more people tied to the January 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. The suspects are Ian Davis Austin and Jerome Deangelo Richardson. These arrests bring the total number of charged individuals to nine.
Charges Include FACE Act Violations
Authorities charged the other protesters with conspiring to violate constitutional rights and breaking the FACE Act. This 1994 law forbids using force, intimidation, or obstruction to stop someone from practicing their religion. Austin and Richardson will face the same charges.
Details of the Protest
Videos show anti-ICE demonstrators chanting “ICE out” and interrupting a church service. FACE Act violations can result in fines or prison time, depending on the seriousness of the actions.
Media Figures Also Charged
Earlier, the Justice Department arrested former CNN anchor Don Lemon and independent journalist Georgia Fort in connection with the protest. Both face FACE Act charges. Previously, a federal judge rejected the initial attempt to charge Lemon, calling it “frivolous.”
Justice Department Continues Investigation
The Justice Department continues pursuing all nine individuals involved in the disruption at Cities Church. Its goal is to protect religious freedom under federal law.
