Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, commented on Wednesday about the recent attack on a church by a group he described as a “left-wing mob.” He suggested that their actions stemmed from misguided advice provided by the state attorney general.
Dismissing ideas that the protesters faced legal repercussions, Turley referenced footage shared by former CNN host Don Lemon during a livestream from Cities Church in St. Paul. The incident apparently focused on a pastor affiliated with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), leading to some targeting him. Turley specifically criticized Minnesota’s Democratic Attorney General Keith Ellison for his statement downplaying the protesters’ actions.
“This is a significant moment for many Minnesotans, especially after being told by the attorney general that no crime occurred and they could face immediate prosecution,” Turley stated in an interview with Fox News host Martha McCallum. He contested Ellison’s assertion that the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act does not pertain to churches, clarifying, “That’s not accurate; it does apply to churches as well.”
“The intent behind the protesters’ actions was to destroy the church,” Turley continued, pointing out that they had left ample evidence that could be of interest to the Department of Justice, especially with the videos they shared. He asserted a strong likelihood that a case would emerge under the FACE Act.
Ellison had previously described the protesters’ actions as “First Amendment activity” during an appearance on CNN. However, Turley remarked, “While this essentially amounts to trespassing and disorderly conduct, it appears they aren’t facing any state charges. It seems Mr. Ellison has no intention of enforcing the law.” He added, “We’re talking about a state attorney general who has publicly supported Antifa in the past.”
In related news, Harmeet Dhillon, an Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, announced on X that the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is investigating the incident, including Lemon’s involvement. Although Lemon denied any prior knowledge of the church’s targeting, he seemed aware of the group’s destination at the beginning of the livestream.
