Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche handed ABC’s resident scold a much needed civics lesson Sunday, calmly dismantling George Stephanopoulos’ attempt to whitewash Don Lemon’s federal indictment as “just reporting.” It was one of those rare moments where someone actually shows up prepared while the host is stuck reciting talking points from a decade ago.
The backdrop is simple. Don Lemon was arrested Friday for his role in storming an ongoing church service in Minneapolis with radical left activists. This was not a protest outside on the sidewalk. Lemon and his associates entered the sanctuary, interrupted worship, blocked exits, harassed families, and shut the service down because the pastor allegedly had ties to ICE. Lemon livestreamed the whole thing while insisting, “This is what the First Amendment is about.”
That claim did not age well.
On ABC’s This Week, George Stephanopoulos tried to frame Lemon as a victim, citing an earlier judge who tossed initial charges and asking when Lemon supposedly crossed the line from journalism into criminal conduct. Blanche did not take the bait.
“Conveniently missing from what you just showed, George,” Blanche said, “is the appellate court and a judge on the appellate court who said just a few days later there was clearly probable cause, and it wasn’t even a close question.” He reminded Stephanopoulos that a grand jury reviewed the evidence and issued an indictment that is now public for anyone willing to read it.
Blanche went further, pointing out the obvious truth corporate media refuses to acknowledge. The First Amendment protects religious freedom just as much as speech. Storming into a church mid service, intimidating congregants, and physically obstructing people from leaving is not journalism, protest, or performance art. It is illegal.
The indictment spells it out in detail. Lemon and his co conspirators occupied aisles, yelled at the pastor, menaced worshipers, and ignored repeated requests to leave. Worse, Lemon was not some neutral observer who wandered in by accident. According to the indictment, he was present at a pre operation briefing with BLM activist Nekima Armstrong, where the target, Cities Church, and the plan were discussed. Lemon thanked Armstrong, agreed to keep the target secret, and told his livestream audience they were heading to a “clandestine” operation.
That matters. Planning, coordination, and deception are not the hallmarks of independent reporting. They are elements of conspiracy.
Blanche shut down Stephanopoulos’ narrative with a blunt reminder. “It doesn’t matter if you happen to be a former CNN journalist. It doesn’t matter if you’re a rioter. It doesn’t matter if you think you’re peacefully protesting. You are not allowed to do that.”
That is the part the media keeps skipping. Credentials do not grant immunity. Cameras do not cancel statutes. And no one gets a free pass to trample religious liberty because they shout the words First Amendment loud enough.
Sunday’s exchange exposed the real divide. One side believes laws apply evenly. The other believes the right politics excuse any behavior. Blanche made clear which side the Justice Department is on.
Leave a Comment