Don't be fooled. His jailing has nothing to do with the first Amendment. It has to do with his personal conduct. Journalists are responsible for their conduct just like everyone else. They're not privileged characters.
If a journalist is in the middle of a riot and is interviewing rioters he's probably on safe ground.
The minute he participates in any act of rioting he loses his protection.
For example if a journalist is in the middle of the chaos simply interviewing rioters he's pretty much on solid footing. If he asks a rioter to do something illegal he's crossed the line. He's instigating.
The question over his upcoming trial is simply did he participate in the church invasion in any way or didn't he. If he had anything to do with the invasion itself he belongs in jail.
The First Amendment has nothing to do with his trial. It's a separate issue. Don't be fooled.
He hasn't been hauled off by the Gestapo to some dank dungeon. He's simply been arrested by federal law enforcement and has been charged with conspiracy and interfering with the first Amendment rights of worshippers.
If/when his defense attorneys bring up the first amendment in his trial it will be a false deflection and will serve as an effort to confuse the jurors.
If Lemon can hide behind freedom of the press for invading a church service then what I ought to do is make myself up a press pass and then do what I want. It would be the ultimate Get out of jail free card.
It would be legitimate. After all I have 101 followers which makes me as legitimate as the New York Times.
(Why anyone is interested in the ranting and raving of an old man is beyond me)
Anyway, nobody's rights are being violated here. Don Lemon let his ego run away with him and let himself believe he is untouchable. He's finding out otherwise. I see he's thrown the race card into the equation, too. That's really worn out. It means nothing.
FWIW three other people have been arrested for the church invasion and my guess is that one, two or maybe all three are going to decide that testifying against Lemon is a pretty good deal because they'll be offered a chance to walk or at least escape jail time.
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