The Justice Department announced on Friday that 30 additional individuals have been indicted in connection with the attack on the Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, that occurred last month.
This situation stems from an incident on January 18, when a group of anti-immigrant protesters entered the church, disrupting the Sunday services and threatening those in attendance.
Attorney General Pam Bondi remarked that she has instructed federal agents to apprehend 25 of those recently indicted, promising that more arrests are forthcoming. “You cannot attack a house of worship. If you do, you cannot hide from us. We will find you, arrest you, and prosecute you,” she wrote in a social media post, underscoring that the Justice Department supports Christians and all Americans of faith.
FBI Director Kash Patel provided further insight, indicating that the charges against each suspect pertain to violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, commonly referred to as the FACE Act.
Patel mentioned that the FBI, in collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, played a significant role in these arrests and hinted at the possibility of more individuals being arrested.
With these new indictments, the total number of charges in the Cities Church case has risen to 39, including the prior arrest of a figure named Don Lemon along with other alleged leaders of the riot. Patel reiterated the FBI’s stance: it will not tolerate any form of intimidation or violence against Americans simply exercising their right to worship.
Lemon was arrested on January 29 and released on the following day. He has pleaded not guilty to charges under the FACE Act as well as conspiracy to violate the rights of others. Other initial defendants in the case have also entered not guilty pleas.
The law firm representing Cities Church, True North Legal, issued a response on Friday regarding the new indictment and additional arrests. Doug Wardlaw, the litigation director, remarked that this legal action sends a strong message that houses of worship are off-limits to those seeking to disrupt and intimidate for political purposes. “The invasion of Cities Church was a premeditated and systematic effort… putting members of the congregation, including children, at risk,” he stated. He emphasized that no one is authorized by the First Amendment to attack a church or instill fear in worshippers.
Wardlaw also expressed gratitude for the Department of Justice’s commitment to enforcing laws that protect places of worship, asserting that such prosecutorial efforts affirm that sanctuaries in America should remain safe havens.
