>>24195962 pb

Federal indictment charging Don Lemon and other individuals with conspiracy against religious freedom under 18 U.S.C. §241

Steven Latham

@wienerdogLemon

The Department of Justice has now unsealed a federal indictment charging Don Lemon and eight other individuals with conspiracy against religious freedom.

According to federal prosecutors, this was not a spontaneous protest. It was a planned and coordinated operation referred to in court filings as “Operation Pullup.” Investigators allege the defendants organized the action ahead of time, promoted it on social media, met for a briefing, and then entered Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota during a Sunday worship service.

Court documents state that approximately 20 to 40 agitators carried out what prosecutors describe as a takeover-style disruption involving intimidation, physical obstruction, and interference with religious worship. As a result, the church service was forced to end early, congregants fled the building in fear, emergency safety procedures were activated, and children were reportedly left terrified during the incident.

The charges are brought under 18 U.S.C. §241, a federal civil rights statute that makes it a felony to conspire to deprive individuals of constitutional rights, including the First Amendment right to freely practice religion at a place of worship.

This case is not centered on immigration policy or protected speech. It focuses on alleged conduct that federal law treats as a serious civil rights violation. A federal grand jury reviewed the evidence and approved the indictment, and the case will now proceed through the court system.

12:21 PM · Jan 30, 2026

https://x.com/wienerdogLemon/status/2017332344563081387

>>24196886

18 U.S.C. § 241, "Conspiracy Against Rights,"makes it a federal crime for two or more people to conspire to injure, threaten, or intimidate anyone in the U.S. in the free exercise of their constitutional or statutory rights. It is a felony with penalties up to 10 years in prison or life/death if death results.

Key Aspects of 18 U.S.C. § 241:

Definition: The statute prohibits conspiring to prevent a person from enjoying rights secured by the U.S. Constitution or federal laws.

No Overt Act Required: Unlike many other conspiracy statutes, § 241 does not require the conspirators to have committed an actual overt act to complete the crime.

Examples of Application:

Voter Rights: Wikipedia notes that this law is used in cases of ballot stuffing, voter intimidation, and destroying ballots.

Civil Rights & Violence: It can be used against conspiracies involving violence, such as cross burning to violate housing rights.

High-Profile Cases: Forbes discusses its application in investigations regarding efforts to overturn the 2020 election, such as the "fake electors" scheme.

Penalties:

Base Penalty: Fine and/or up to 10 years imprisonment.

Enhanced Penalty: If death, kidnapping, or sexual assault results, the penalty can be imprisonment for any term of years or for life, and potentially the death penalty.

Distinction from 18 U.S.C. § 242: While § 241 covers conspiracies (two or more people), 18 U.S.C. § 242 covers acts committed by a single person "under color of law".

AI overview

https://www.justice.gov/crt/statutes-enforced-criminal-section