Joe Thompson Now Representing Don Lemon After Resigning Amid Trump Dispute
A former federal prosecutor who resigned amid tensions with the Trump administration is now representing former CNN host Don Lemon, one of nine people indicted over an alleged disruption at a Minnesota church where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official served as pastor.
According to a court filing Tuesday, Lemon has retained Joe Thompson, the former interim U.S. Attorney for Minnesota. Thompson had been leading major federal fraud prosecutions in the state before stepping down last month.
Prosecutors Exit as Immigration Tensions Escalate
Thompson is among several prosecutors who have left the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office amid growing frustration over the administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown. The departures also come as the Justice Department faces scrutiny over its response to the fatal shootings of two people by federal officers in Minneapolis.
The Trump administration has pointed to large-scale fraud cases in Minnesota as justification for its immigration policies in the state. Most defendants in those cases have come from Minnesota’s sizable Somali community. In December, Thompson estimated that taxpayer losses tied to several ongoing fraud prosecutions could total as much as $9 billion.
Lemon previously said through another attorney that he intends to plead not guilty to federal civil rights charges stemming from his coverage of the church protest. He maintains he was present as an independent journalist and was not affiliated with the group that allegedly disrupted the service.
The indictment details various actions by members of the group who entered the church and references statements Lemon made while livestreaming the event.
Lemon is scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 13 in federal court in St. Paul.
New Law Firm Formed by Former Prosecutors
After resigning, Thompson launched a new law firm with Harry Jacobs, another former federal prosecutor who also left the office during the recent upheaval. Jacobs previously served as lead prosecutor in the case against Vance Boelter, who has pleaded not guilty to charges in last year’s assassination of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as the nonfatal shootings of a state senator and his wife.
The firm’s website describes Thompson and Jacobs as “battle tested and seasoned” trial lawyers.
Thompson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
