Judges Deny DOJ Request to Detain Protesters
Two judges have turned down a Department of Justice (DOJ) request to detain three leftist protesters linked to a break-in at a church in Minnesota.
As reported by NBC News, U.S. District Judge Laura M. Provingino made a ruling regarding the case. She ordered the release of protester William Scott Kelly, along with Nekima Valdez Levy-Armstrong and Chauntil Luisa Allen.
Judge Provingino asserted that DOJ lawyers failed to demonstrate that a detention hearing was necessary or that detention itself was justified.
In her decision involving Levy-Armstrong and Allen, the judge pointed out that the Trump administration did not provide adequate factual or legal support to back their claim that these actions constituted a “violent crime.” The third protester, William Scott Kelly, was also granted release in a separate ruling.
The three protesters are facing criminal charges alongside an unspecified number of other defendants. Notably, since not all of the defendants are in custody, the police affidavit, which is typically used to justify an arrest, has been redacted. The case involves the FACE Act, a federal law aimed at protecting reproductive healthcare facilities but also includes protections for places of worship.
Amy Farr reported for Breitbart News that Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrests of Armstrong and Allen, who are accused of participating in the attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
In a social media post, Bondi stated, “Minutes ago, at my direction, agents executed an arrest in Minnesota.” She referred to Armstrong as a key figure in the alleged coordinated attack at the church.
Bondi later updated her announcement, confirming that Allen had also been taken into custody, adding, “There’s more to come. We will protect our places of worship.”
This announcement came shortly after demonstrators had entered Cities Church to protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Former CNN host Don Lemon streamed the protest on YouTube, noting that attendees had discovered that one of the church’s pastors was reportedly tied to ICE.
