The wife of the judge who refused to accept charges against Don Lemon for disrupting a church service is herself an assistant attorney general working for AG Keith Ellison.

Three alleged participants in the anti-ICE protest at a Saint Paul church were charged on Thursday, according to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.

‘We will protect our pastors. We will protect our churches. We will protect Americans of faith.’

While many believed the former CNN anchor would also face charges over his participation in the protest, sources told various news outlets that a magistrate refused to sign off on the charges.

The magistrate was later identified as Judge Douglas Micko, whose wife, Caitlin Micko, works in Ellison’s office, according to some reports.

Lemon has claimed to have acted as a journalist when he joined the protesters against Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They targeted the Cities Church because a senior pastor at the church has been reportedly identified as the leader of an ICE office.

Activist attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong said the pastor’s ICE role posed a “fundamental moral conflict” with his church role.

“You cannot lead a congregation while directing an agency whose actions have cost lives and inflicted fear in our communities,” Armstrong said. “When officials protect armed agents, repeatedly refuse meaningful investigation into killings like Renee Good’s, and signal they may pursue peaceful protesters and journalists, that is not justice — it is intimidation.”

The administration may pursue other alternatives to seek Lemon’s prosecution.

One source said that Attorney General Pam Bondi was “enraged at the magistrate judge’s decision.”

Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, released a statement defending his actions.

“The magistrate’s reported actions confirm the nature of Don’s First Amendment protected work this weekend in Minnesota as a reporter,” he said, according to Politico. “It was no different than what he has done for more than 30 years, reporting and covering newsworthy events on the ground and engaging in constitutionally protected activity as a journalist.”

A Blaze News request for comment from Ellison’s office was not immediately answered.

RELATED: Don Lemon nailed with fierce backlash for ‘trans’ slur against Megyn Kelly

Bondi excoriated the protest at the church in a post on social media.

“Religious freedom is the bedrock of this country,” she wrote. “We will protect our pastors. We will protect our churches. We will protect Americans of faith.”

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

​Judge who let don lemon off, Charges against don lemon, Anti-ice protest at church, Ag keith ellison, Politics 

The House of Representative’s Oversight Committee has formally brought articles against the Clintons for contempt of Congress, and BlazeTV host Liz Wheeler believes it’s what the Clintons deserve.

“If anyone’s in a position to know whether Jeffrey Epstein was, in fact, belonging to intelligence as is reported … it would be the Clintons in a position to testify, and they defied that subpoena, which is a crime. It is a crime,” Wheeler says.

“The Clintons’ testimony is critical to understanding Epstein’s sex trafficking network and the ways he sought to curry favor and influence to shield himself from scrutiny. Their testimony may also inform how Congress can strengthen laws to better combat human trafficking,” Comer said.

“Since issuing the subpoenas, this committee has acted in good faith. We’ve offered flexibility on scheduling. The response we received was not cooperation, but defiance marked by repeated delays, excuses, and obstruction,” he continued, noting that the Clintons have claimed to have been treated “unfairly.”

Comer also pointed out that photographs, flight log records, wedding invitations, and other materials serve as evidence of the couple’s well-documented relationship with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

“Remember, to defy a congressional subpoena is a crime. When two Republicans committed this crime, [Steve] Bannon and Peter Navarro, what happened to them? [Steve] Bannon was sentenced to federal prison. Peter Navarro was sentenced to federal prison,” Wheeler comments.

“Why should Hillary Clinton be treated any differently? Why should there be a double standard of justice that holds Republicans to account when crimes are committed and lets Democrats off the hook?” she asks.

While some critics of the move against the Clintons are warning that this might open the floor for Democrats to target Republicans politically when they’re in power, Wheeler couldn’t disagree more.

“That’s nonsense. The Democrats have been targeting us already. We’ve spent the last decade being targeted by Democrats. It’s not going to suddenly give them permission and they’re going to start targeting us,” she says. “They already have.”

Want more from Liz Wheeler?

To enjoy more of Liz’s based commentary, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

​Video, Free, Upload, Camera phone, Sharing, Video phone, Youtube.com, The liz wheeler show, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, James comer, House oversight committee, Hillary clinton, Liz wheeler, Bill clinton, Jeffrey epstein, Ghislaine maxwell, The epstein files 

Grady Judd, the outspoken sheriff of Florida’s Polk County, most definitely is not shy about making his opinions known, whether they’re about crime in his own back yard or even crime of concern around the country.

Indeed, after leftists protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement stormed a church Sunday in St. Paul, Minnesota, Judd — like many Americans — was outraged and made sure to let residents of his Florida county know exactly where he stands.

‘Freedom of religion. It is our right in this United States of America.’

The following is what Judd had to say:

I’m standing in a house of worship. And I think about last weekend in St. Paul, Minnesota, where people who came to worship were attacked — they were attacked by rioters. The service was disrupted. They cut at the very fabric of this great United States of America. We settled this country so many years ago so we could worship free, the way we wanted to, in whatever house of worship we chose. That attack is unacceptable.

Then he added what many in Polk County wanted to hear: “I can assure you that had that attack been in this community, every one of those rioters would be in jail today. That’s where the federal government could have found them — on state charges, locked up.”

Judd concluded: “And I pray it’s that same way all across the United States of America. Enough is enough. Let’s join together for the good of the United States of America, let’s worship the way we want to, and let’s everyone renounce the horribleness of last Sunday in St. Paul, Minnesota.”

RELATED: Why ‘anti-ICE protesters’ are useful, delusional idiots

The video showing Judd’s words received over 3 million views and elicited more than 20,000 comments since it was posted Tuesday; the following are some of the more popular reactions:

“Grady Judd for sheriff of the world!” one commenter wrote.”I love Sheriff Grady Judd,” another user said. “We need more people like him in law enforcement all over this great country.””Freedom of religion,” another commenter noted. “It is our right in this United States of America.””Great commentary,” another user offered. “What’s troubling is that a segment of the American public is attempting to argue that the individuals who disrupted the church were merely ‘exercising their First Amendment rights.’ That claim collapses under even minimal scrutiny. Once they trespassed onto church property, any First Amendment protection ceased to apply. More importantly, their actions directly violated the First Amendment religious rights of the church and its members. If there were ever a clear-cut case for the DOJ to set a strong precedent by pursuing felony charges, this would be it. Serious consequences are warranted for conduct this egregious.”

As it happens, Nekima Levy Armstrong and Chauntyll Louisa Allen were arrested Thursday in connection with the church-storming incident. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced later Thursday that William Kelly also was arrested.

However, former CNN talking head Don Lemon reportedly is escaping charges. Lemon claimed to have been acting as a journalist when he joined the group that stormed the church whose pastor reportedly leads an ICE office.

But CBS News sources said a Minnesota federal magistrate judge refused to sign a complaint against Lemon. “The attorney general is enraged at the magistrate’s decision,” according to a CBS News source said to be familiar with the matter.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

​Politics, Grady judd, Florida, Polk county sheriff’s office, Minnesota, St. paul, Church, Leftists, Church service, Anti-ice protests, Faith, Anti-christian bias, Crime 

The FBI announced on Wednesday the arrest of two medical device company executives, accusing them of conspiracy to commit fraud and other offenses.

Special agents with the FBI Boston and Denver field offices arrested Thomas Sandgaard and Anna Lucsok, the respective former CEO and former COO of Zynex Inc.

‘This case represents a troubling abuse of patients seeking care, as well as the federal health-care benefit system.’

“The former CEO and COO of Zynex are accused of operating with a single-minded focus, their own financial enrichment,” Ted Docks, the special agent in charge of FBI Boston Division, stated. “Today, we arrested them for allegedly defrauding the government and insurance companies out of hundreds of millions of dollars and using vulnerable patients seeking relief from their pain to do it.”

“Health care fraud should not be a quick and easy way to boost a corporation’s bottom line and fund lavish lifestyles for its executives. It’s a federal crime with serious consequences, and the FBI will continue to work with our partners to bring anyone fleecing the U.S. government to justice,” Docks added.

A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island revealed further details about the federal investigation and the suspects, including that they allegedly collected more than $873 million from 2017 through 2025.

The two allegedly devised a scheme to fraudulently obtain money from the government and private health care patients. They were also accused of defrauding Zynex investors by hiding some of the company’s billings and revenues.

RELATED: $300M frozen: California allegedly forced Americans to fund illegal alien Medicaid — so Dr. Oz drops the hammer

Photo by Andrew Leyden/Getty Images

Over $600 million of the defrauded funds were for supplies that were improperly and unnecessarily billed, the attorney’s office alleged.

“The indictment alleges that supplies were shipped in excessive volumes, sometimes as large as 32, 64, or 128 electrode pairs per patient each month. Sandgaard and Lucsok used these fraudulent billings, and the revenues derived from them, to fraudulently inflate the company’s financial reporting and drive up the stock price of Zynex,” the attorney’s office wrote.

“They continued these practices despite being notified many times that their billing practices were fraudulent, and even when patients told Zynex to stop sending those supplies because they already had too many,” it added.

One patient submitted a complaint in 2022 to the Better Business Bureau, writing, “[T]hey kept mailing me supplies and I kept getting denials. I called today and was informed that I owe a tremendous amount of money. … I live on $1,100.00 dollars a month and cannot afford much. … She informed me that there still would be a rental fee and supply fees. I told her that I could not even afford food at this point.”

Another patient told the BBB that they felt the company is “a total SCAM.”

“I received the product and then continued to receive batteries and electrodes. AFTER NINE MONTHS I received a bill with 27 charges for supplies. This was the first bill I ever received, they just kept racking up the charges and they waited nine months to send the bill. The minute I received it, I called the company, and they were unable to connect me with the billing department, we set up a call back — still waiting,” the individual wrote.

When reporters started investigating Zynex, the company allegedly hired someone to “disrupt the reporters’ personal lives.” This allegedly included signing reporters up for therapy sessions, listing conditions such as erectile dysfunction. In another alleged instance, used women’s underwear was sent to a reporter’s home, addressed to their spouse, with a note outlining the reporter’s claimed “illicit behavior,” seemingly to make the reporter appear unfaithful.

RELATED: What investigators still haven’t asked about Minnesota’s fraud

Photo Illustration by Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Sandgaard, 67, is a Colorado resident and a dual U.S. and Danish citizen. Lucsok, 39, is also a Colorado resident with dual citizenship in the U.S. and Ukraine.

The alleged co-conspirators are facing one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, mail fraud, and securities fraud; nine counts of health care fraud; two counts of mail fraud, and three counts of aggravated identity theft.

The government has attempted to restrain the suspects’ assets, including properties in Colorado and Florida, several bank accounts, a Gulfstream G-IV aircraft, two Porsches, and a few other vehicles.

Zynex and its teams have received numerous awards, including the BBB Torch Award for Marketplace Trust, the Top 50 Healthcare Technology CEOs, and Top 50 Women Leaders in Healthcare Technology, according to the company’s website.

“This case represents a troubling abuse of patients seeking care, as well as the federal health care benefit system,” U.S. Attorney Charles Calenda said. “As alleged, the defendants’ conduct undermined programs intended to serve patients in need. Our office remains committed to protecting the integrity of these programs and holding accountable those who seek to exploit patients, payors, and investors.”

Zynex did not respond to a request for comment.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

​News, Zynex, Fbi, Fbi boston, Fbi denver, Federal bureau of investigation, Medical device company, Healthcare, Health care, Fraud, Politics 

A debate over food welfare benefits in the U.S. erupted on social media after a Democrat senator from New York tried to challenge Agriculture Sec. Brooke Rollins on whether $15 could feed a person for a day.

A video posted to social media showed Rollins explaining herself after she was attacked for saying a $3 meal could consist of chicken, a tortilla, and a piece of broccoli.

‘Tell us you’re an out-of-touch elite politician without saying you’re an out-of-touch elite politician.’

“We had run almost a thousand simulations, and between $3 and $4 is a fair number if you can have access to that food,” said Rollins to reporters.

“So just about an hour ago, I just saw new numbers that were run: a full day, meaning three full square meals and a snack, is about $15.64. That’s all three meals and a snack,” she added.

“Part of me sort of cringed at the criticism that I got, because it wasn’t what I meant,” Rollins said. “I grew up with a single mom in a really small town and certainly never meant to be flippant. But I also think that the left or those that were attacking me perhaps know that this is an issue that 90% of Americans agree on.”

Democrat Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York challenged Rollins to defend how someone could live on the food stamp allowance, and thousands responded online.

“Ok, run the simulation for us yourself,” she wrote. “I challenge Secretary Rollins to eat three meals a day on 15 dollars. Show the American people.”

Many on the left agreed with Gillibrand and said so on social media.

One person called Rollins’ estimate “preposterous,” while another reported that buying three roast beef sandwiches from Arby’s cost $32. A third person said being asked to spend less on food was a “class war,” and yet another complained that buying a meal at McDonald’s cost $12.

But others reported easily being able to meet that standard for food spending.

RELATED: Able-bodied 38-year-old man goes viral over food stamp restrictions: ‘That’s some bulls**t!’

One user said the user’s family of five adults was easily fed by a weekly grocery budget of $300, which would come to $2.85 per person per meal. Another said costs add up to $5 per person per meal while shopping at Costco.

“Let’s be honest — one of the main reasons we have such an obesity and poverty epidemic in America is that people are spending more than $5 per meal on average,” said another detractor.

“My family of 4 runs a household grocery budget of $400/week,” reported another user. “We cook every meal and eat very well including snacks and desserts. Where’s the problem here? It’s more than feasible if you’re capable of cooking your own food.”

“Wtf how’s that even a challenge. I’m in California (highest cost of living state because of incompetent democrats) and I could make healthy meals for half that,” said another.

“Tell us you’re an out-of-touch elite politician without saying you’re an out-of-touch elite politician. My neighbor feeds her family of 4 on less than that every day,” read another response.

Others pointed out that Americans who depend on the taxpayer for their food should be asked to budget at least as much as those who provide for their families and also pay taxes to fund SNAP benefits.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

​Brooke rollins on snap benefits, Food welfare cost, Kristen gillibrand crushed, Libs crushed online, Politics