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Two former assistant U.S. attorneys who prosecuted fraud cases in Minnesota are now defending two independent Black journalists charged in connection with a demonstration at a St. Paul church. 

Activists disrupted services at Cities Church Jan. 18 after learning that an ICE official is on the ministry team.

Don Lemon — formerly of CNN — and Minnesota journalist Georgia Fort are accused along with seven activists of conspiring to violate the civil rights of worshippers. The Justice Department charged them under a law that it historically used against the Ku Klux Klan.

Joe Thompson — who’s on Lemon’s defense team — was previously lead prosecutor in the Feeding Our Future case. 

He quit when the Justice Department pressured prosecutors to investigate the widow of Renee Macklin Good after an ICE agent killed Good in January.

Former fraud prosecutor Matt Ebert entered private practice last year. He’s part of Fort’s defense team.

The latest on ICE in Minnesota

Matt Sepic

Author

Journalist Don Lemon has hired Joe Thompson, previously lead prosecutor in the Feeding Our Future case. Lemon is charged in connection with a demonstration at a St. Paul church he covered in January.

Don Lemon hires former Minnesota federal prosecutor in church protest case

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