Don Lemon among 39 seeking dismissal in St. Paul church case

A group charged after a St. Paul church protest is asking a federal judge to throw out the case.

Protesters who disrupted a service at Cities Church during Operation Metro Surge were back in federal court Tuesday, arguing their cases should be dismissed. The group is known as the Righteous 39.

In January, 39 protesters were charged in connection with the protest at the church. The group includes local civil rights activist and journalist Nekima Levy Armstrong and nationally known journalist Don Lemon.

RELATED: Judge orders release of journalists arrested after covering anti-ICE protest at church 

Federal prosecutors argue the group violated the rights of churchgoers by intimidating them and interrupting their church service for political motives. Attorneys for the 39 defendants argue the First Amendment protects the...