Judge Criticizes Trump DOJ for Hiding Evidence in Don Lemon Case

A federal magistrate judge has strongly criticized the Trump administration's Justice Department for mismanaging the discovery process in a criminal case involving former CNN reporter Don Lemon and protesters at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas Micko rebuked federal prosecutors for improperly redacting witness and law enforcement names, causing them to miss the deadline for turning over information to the defense. The government justified its actions using a 'belt and suspenders' approach under the Crime Victims' Rights Act, but Judge Micko rejected this argument, noting that a Protective Order already ensured confidentiality. The judge highlighted the lack of legal precedent for the government's stance. The charges, based on the FACE Act, stem from protests against a pastor with ties to Immigration and Customs Enforcement during mass deportations. Legal experts argue the charges against Lemon, who claims he was merely documenting the event as a journalist, are defective and may violate the First Amendment and the Commerce Clause.