No state charges against Don Lemon and others who stormed a church

Dozens of anti-ICE protesters, including former CNN journalist Don Lemon, will avoid state criminal charges after storming a Minnesota church service in January — a decision church leaders blasted as effectively giving activists a free pass to disrupt religious worship.

St. Paul City Attorney Irene Kao said in a statement Wednesday that her office would not pursue charges, saying the available evidence did not support prosecution under Minnesota law.

"Following a careful evaluation of the video footage, investigative reports, and other available materials, prosecutors determined that the current evidence is insufficient to meet that standard for criminal charges under Minnesota state statutes," the statement said.

Kao stressed that the decision not to file state charges "should not be interpreted as an endorsement of unlawful behavior or public disorder."

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Most recently, Kao served as the Intergovernmental Relations Counsel at the League of Minnesota Cities. In this role, she led changes to eliminate structural racism and bias through advocacy and legal guidance, securing policies at the state and local levels in zoning/land use, housing, data practices and mental health.

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