119-HRES-1026 Journalist Public Summary
A House resolution condemns the January 18, 2026 disruption of a worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul, reaffirms protections for religious worship under federal law, commends DOJ’s investigation, and specifically condemns Don Lemon’s alleged participation; it was introduced on January 30, 2026 and referred to the House Judiciary Committee. (congress.gov)
Public Summary: 119-HRES-1026
Headline Summary: Condemns the disruption of a St. Paul church service, backs a federal investigation, and formally calls out Don Lemon—an expression of the House’s position rather than a change to law. (congress.gov)
What It Does: This is a nonbinding House resolution. It denounces the January 18, 2026 disruption at Cities Church in St. Paul, reaffirms Americans’ right to worship, points to the federal FACE Act that prohibits using force or obstruction to interfere with religious services, commends the Department of Justice for investigating, and condemns Don Lemon by name for allegedly taking part. (congress.gov)
- Supporters include the sponsor, Rep. Earl “Buddy” Carter (R-GA). As of February 2, 2026, there are no listed cosponsors. (congress.gov)
- Leaders at Cities Church, whose service was disrupted, have urged officials to protect worship and called the conduct “shameful” and “unlawful,” a stance that aligns with the resolution’s emphasis on safeguarding services. (citieschurch.com)
- News reports note federal authorities are reviewing or bringing charges tied to the incident under civil-rights laws; backers of the resolution frame this enforcement as necessary to protect worshippers. (apnews.com)
- Press‑freedom and civil‑liberties advocates argue prosecutions related to the incident risk chilling newsgathering and protest; several groups criticized the arrests of journalists, including Don Lemon, as government overreach. (freedom.press)
- Some faith and civic voices worry that highly public condemnations of a named individual in a congressional resolution could politicize an ongoing case; coverage emphasizes that facts remain contested and under investigation. (religionnews.com)
What’s Next: The resolution was introduced on January 30, 2026 and referred to the House Judiciary Committee; it remains at the “Introduced” stage. If the House later adopts it, it would state the chamber’s view but would not itself change law. (congress.gov)
Discussion