It seems not a day goes by that we aren’t writing about a jurist leaping off the third rope to kneecap virtually any attempt by the Trump administration to bring back the rule of law and order to this country.
It’s Friday, so here we go again: Biden-appointed U.S. District Judge Laura Provinzino ruled that two of the most prominent figures in Saturday’s anti-ICE raid on the Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota — Nekima Armstrong and Chauntyll Allen — should be released because they don’t pose a “flight risk.”
They may not be a flight risk, but they are certainly a threat to continue their efforts against federal law enforcement — and even houses of worship.
Judge Provinzino ordered the release of Nekima Levy Armstrong and Chauntyll Allen, finding no flight risk despite DOJ felony charges for a church protest. William Kelly remains held, for now. While facing up to 10 years, the judge’s ruling treats them as low-risk, unlike the… pic.twitter.com/u7T90LXOor
— David Earl Williams III (@dewforpolitics) January 23, 2026
The decision, which can be viewed here, said:
IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
- The United States’ Application for Review or Reconsideration of Order Setting Conditions of Release or Detention (18 U.S.C. § 3142) and Request for Hearing (ECF No. 7) and Motion for Emergency Stay and for Review and Revocation of Release Orders (ECF No. 17) are DENIED.
- Defendants are hereby ORDERED RELEASED under 18 U.S.C. § 3142(c).
JUST IN: Judge OKs release for 2 MN church protesters charged w/civil rights viol, Nekima Levy-Armstrong & Chauntyll Allen. Judge Laura Provinzino (Biden) finds no 'serious risk of flight' & sets release conditions. Doc:
— Josh Gerstein (@joshgerstein) January 23, 2026
https://t.co/rzr9Nd1Exu Earlier: https://t.co/uaJZnTMWM0
The decision did impose some restrictions on the defendants, however:
Those included: (1) supervision by U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services; (2) travel outside of Minnesota restricted unless approved by a supervising officer; (3) no-contact with any victims or witnesses of the charged offense; (4) no possession of a firearm, destructive device, or other weapon; and (5) at the request of the United States, a stay-away condition which reads: “Defendant shall stay away from the church location identified in the Complaint Affidavit. ‘Stay away’ means no closer than the public sidewalk nearest to the location of the Church.”
They must also surrender their passports. Such powerful justice being meted out here.
Homeland Security Investigators and FBI agents arrested Nekima Levy Armstrong who played a key role in orchestrating the Church Riots in St. Paul, Minnesota.
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) January 22, 2026
She is being charged with a federal crime under 18 USC 241.
Religious freedom is the bedrock of the United States -… pic.twitter.com/LHh994fXf3
Religious freedom is the bedrock of the United States - there is no first amendment right to obstruct someone from practicing their religion.
To be clear, this does not mean the charges have been dropped or that the pair will not still face consequences in the court of law. It's not at all unusual for suspects deemed "non-violent" to be released before their trial date. In fact, the judge found that the "charged conspiracy is not a crime of violence." You be the judge of whether their incursion on the church was non-violent.
Perhaps it's just the "Minnesota Way."
The news comes as a federal magistrate reportedly refused to sign off on charges against disgraced former CNN pundit Don Lemon, who became part of the church assault even as he claimed he was just reporting on it. Although he’s just a fired hack who even CNN couldn’t stomach anymore, it’s yet another reason why nobody trusts the mainstream media in the modern age.
New: Judge Refuses Charges Against Don Lemon, While Others Are Arrested for MN Church Invasion
It’s not the first anti-administration ruling Judge Provinzino has issued: Earlier in January, she blocked Trump from withholding tens of millions in aid to Minnesota's food stamp program while the government investigates the epidemic of fraud in Tim Walz’s Gopher State.
🚨 BREAKING: In an infuriating development, rogue Judge Laura Provinzino BLOCKS President Trump from freezing Minnesota SNAP funding while there's rampant fraud
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 14, 2026
This is a BIDEN appointee.
She thinks she is president.
OVERTURN AND KEEP DEFUNDING! The judicial coup MUST lose. pic.twitter.com/Pp8n67Whct
Anti-ICE protesters continue in Minneapolis on Friday. I can’t pretend I’m not amused by all the demonstrators’ signs that say, “NO ICE!” This even as they endure a massive cold front, and Mother Nature continues to show that she’s not interested in their signs and is bringing ice, snow, and brutally cold temperatures to the region.
But as we’ve seen so often in the Trump administration 2.0, far too many judges aren’t interested in doling out consequences for violent actions. They would rather put their leftist orthodoxy first and foremost, and let those miscreants who they agree with ideologically off the hook, no matter what potential egregious crimes they commit.
The good news: I sincerely doubt the Trump administration is just going to simply walk away from this one. They have shown that they will just keep coming, and coming, and I have to think that for Nekima Levy Armstrong and Chauntyll Allen, the consequences have only begun.
Editor’s Note: Democrat politicians and their radical supporters will do everything they can to interfere with and threaten ICE agents enforcing our immigration laws.
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