The pursuit of justice continued for a stormed Minnesota church as Attorney General Pam Bondi announced more than two dozen arrests for alleged conspiracy against rights of religious freedom.
Though slower than those calling for action would prefer, the Department of Justice had not ceased its efforts at accountability for Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Nearly six weeks after anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activists had allegedly terrorized congregants during a Sunday service, Bondi announced an additional 30 people had been charged with 26 arrests following quickly thereafter.
In a statement posted to X, the attorney general said, “Today, @thejusticedept unsealed an indictment charging 30 more people who took part in the attack on Cities Church in Minnesota. At my direction, federal agents have already arrested 25 of them, with more to come throughout the day. YOU CANNOT ATTACK A HOUSE OF WORSHIP. If you do so, you cannot hide from us — we will find you, arrest you, and prosecute you. This Department of Justice STANDS for Christians and all Americans of faith.”
Today, @thejusticedept unsealed an indictment charging 30 more people who took part in the attack on Cities Church in Minnesota.
At my direction, federal agents have already arrested 25 of them, with more to come throughout the day.
YOU CANNOT ATTACK A HOUSE OF WORSHIP. If you…
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) February 27, 2026
Minutes later, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division followed up, “BREAKING!!! 30 more indicted on FACE ACT and KLAN ACT, 25 already arrested this morning! Incredible teamwork by our @CivilRights prosecutors, assist from HSI & FBI agents to make these arrests safely & fast. It’s a great honor to work for a @TheJusticeDept that protects faith!”
She added from her personal account, “For those of you keeping score at home, this is a total of 39 people indicted for attacking an American house of worship, 35 of whom have been ARRESTED (another one was just arrested in the last few minutes).”
For those of you keeping score at home, this is a total of 39 people indicted for attacking an American house of worship, 35 of whom have been ARRESTED (another one was just arrested in the last few minutes).
A grand jury of Americans found probable cause for these crimes. https://t.co/g6CuSVjJ3q
— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@HarmeetKDhillon) February 27, 2026
According to the superseding indictment, which included previously named defendants like Nekima Valdez Levy Armstrong, William Kelly and Don Lemon (who took no questions after his no-bail release at the end of January), all 39 individuals were charged with Conspiracy Against Right of Religious Freedom at Place of Worship (18 U.S.C. § 241) and Injure, Intimidate, and Interfere with Exercise of Right of Religious Freedom at Place of Worship (18 U.S.C. § 248(a)(2), (b), § 2(a)).
🚨BREAKING
THIRTY-NINE individuals now face charges for the invasion of Cities Church
Here’s the superseding indictment.
🧵1/7 pic.twitter.com/EbK7gqUGdM
— Tyler O’Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) February 27, 2026
The unsealed indictment comes as Lemon also faced a separate lawsuit from an alleged parishioner of the church who claimed the former CNN host and protesters had caused her “emotional distress.”
Representing Cities Church, True North Legal’s Director of Litigation Doug Wardlow issued his own statement, “The indictment of 30 additional people for their involvement in the invasion of Cities Church sends a clear message: houses of worship are off limits for those who would use chaos and intimidation to advance a political agenda.”
“The invasion of Cities Church was a planned, coordinated effort to disrupt a worship service and interfere with religious exercise that placed congregants, including children, in fear for their lives. The First Amendment does not give anyone–regardless of profession, prominence, or politics–license to storm a church and intimidate, threaten, and terrorize families and children worshipping inside,” he went on. “Cities church is grateful for the Department of Justice’s continued commitment to enforcing federal law to protect churches and other places of worship. The Department’s aggressive prosecution of this case affirms a foundational principle: in the United States, the sanctuary remains a sanctuary.”
My colleague @ReneeKCarlson and I are proud to represent @citieschurch. Here is my statement following the indictment of 30 additional people who were involved in the invasion of the church.
“The indictment of 30 additional people for their involvement in the invasion of Cities…
— Doug Wardlow (@doug_wardlow) February 27, 2026
“Cities Church is grateful for the Department of Justice’s continued commitment to enforcing federal law to protect churches and other places of worship. The Department’s aggressive prosecution of this case affirms a foundational principle: in the United States, the sanctuary…
— Doug Wardlow (@doug_wardlow) February 27, 2026
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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