'Gross abuse of power': Minneapolis mayor blasts Trump DOJ for indicting church protesters

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey took direct aim at President Donald Trump and the Department of Justice on Thursday, January 22, condemning the federal indictments of two community organizers linked to a controversial church protest in St Paul.

The case stems from an incident in which demonstrators entered a Cities Church service during protests over immigration enforcement in Minnesota. Video of the disruption, livestreamed by former CNN host Don Lemon, circulated widely and drew national attention. Federal authorities later announced arrests, prompting a sharp response from the mayor.

Minneapolis mayor condemns Trump DOJ over protest indictments

Frey blasted the federal response as a “gross abuse of power,” accusing the government of selectively targeting protesters while failing to pursue accountability in the fatal shooting of Minnesota mother Renee Good by an ICE agent earlier this month.

“The federal government is picking and choosing who to investigate – going after protestors and not the person who shot and killed one of our neighbors,” Frey wrote on X. He also called for the immediate release of activist Nekima Levy Armstrong.

Frey argued that the indictments deepen distrust between immigrant communities and law enforcement, especially as anger continues to build over ICE operations in the state.

Pam Bondi announces federal arrests tied to Cities Church incident

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the federal arrests of Nekima Levy Armstrong and Chauntyll Louisa Allen, a St Paul school board member and local organizer, in connection with the disruption at the Cities Church service.

Bondi said the protest violated federal protections for houses of worship and warned that similar actions would not be tolerated, stressing that federal authorities would aggressively pursue such cases.

Agents from Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI carried out the arrests in Minnesota, with Bondi saying additional updates would be shared as the case proceeds.

Church protest linked to outrage over ICE shooting of Renee Good

The protest inside the church was part of broader demonstrations following the January 7 killing of Renee Good, which has fueled local and national outrage over the use of force by federal immigration agents.

Frey and other city leaders have rejected claims that the shooting was an act of self-defense, arguing that available video evidence contradicts that narrative. The case has become a flashpoint in debates over federal immigration enforcement tactics.

Trump criticizes Don Lemon over livestreamed church protest

President Trump also weighed in on the incident, suggesting that Don Lemon could face legal consequences for livestreaming the protest. However, a federal judge later rejected efforts to charge Lemon, ruling that his presence inside the church constituted journalistic reporting.

At a White House briefing, Trump criticized Lemon’s conduct during the service while praising the church’s pastor for remaining calm amid the disruption.

Jacob Frey’s earlier clashes with Trump administration over ICE

This is not the first time Jacob Frey has publicly criticized the Trump administration. Earlier this month, following Good’s death, he dismissed the Department of Homeland Security’s account of the shooting and accused ICE of sowing fear and chaos in Minneapolis.

After reviewing video footage, Frey said the shooting reflected reckless use of power and urged ICE to leave the city, arguing that its presence has eroded trust and endangered residents.

The federal indictments have further escalated tensions between Minneapolis officials and the Trump administration as protests, investigations, and legal battles continue.