Their accounts emerged the same day department officials announced the arrests of a prominent civil rights lawyer and two others in connection with the church demonstration. Justice Department officials have publicly derided his claim that he was simply reporting on the protest and vowed to investigate him for potential wrongdoing. Justice Department officials have refused calls to examine the shooting, saying no basis exists to criminally investigate whether the officer used excessive force. The state attorney general was among the Minnesota leaders to receive a Justice Department subpoena this week as part of the investigation into their rhetoric. It remained unclear Thursday whether the department intended to try again to file charges against Lemon or others tied to the St. Paul protest.

Source: Washington Post January 22, 2026 22:16 UTC