Judge Rejects Potential Charges Against Journalist Don Lemon for Church Protest Footage

A U.S. magistrate judge has declined to authorize charges against journalist Don Lemon. The Justice Department had suggested charges could be filed. This follows Lemon's appearance in video from a protest. The event occurred inside a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, last Sunday. The judge's decision stops any criminal case from moving forward. Legal experts note that merely being present at a protest and recording it is generally protected activity. Charges require evidence of specific illegal acts. Lemon is a former CNN anchor who now works as an independent journalist. The nature of the protest and why the Justice Department reviewed the case remain unclear from available information.