Charges Dropped Against Woman Mistaken for Protester in Minnesota Church Case
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- Federal prosecutors have dismissed charges with prejudice against Heather Danae Lewis, one of 39 defendants accused of disrupting a church service in Minnesota in January to protest the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
- The dismissal appears to be due to mistaken identity, as Ms. Lewis demonstrated she was not present at the protest, despite resembling a woman seen in video footage.
- The case is part of a broader government effort to treat organized opposition to Trump administration initiatives as criminal conspiracies, and involved high-profile defendants including former CNN journalist Don Lemon.
- Ms. Lewis expressed relief that the charges were dropped, stating the ordeal was stressful for her and her family and that she no longer fears arrest.
- Prosecutors provided no public explanation for the dismissal
