30 JAN 26 SITREP

• The federal indictment against journalist Don Lemon was unsealed, charging the former CNN anchor with two felonies: Conspiracy Against Right of Religious Freedom at Place of Worship, and Injure, Intimidate, and Interfere with Exercise of Right of Religious Freedom at Place of Worship, stemming from the storming of the Cities Church in St. Paul on Sunday January 18.
• The Department of Justice said Lemon may be liable for FACE Act violations, citing “prohibited activities” involving force, threat of force, or physical obstruction that intentionally injures, intimidates, or interferes with any person exercising the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship, with the FACE Act also preventing the same behavior for “reproductive health services.”
• The indictment listed “Overt Act # 20” stating Lemon told his livestream audience about congregants leaving the church and about a “young man” who Lemon could see was “frightened,” “scared,” and “crying,” with Lemon stating the congregants’ reactions were understandable because the experience was “traumatic and uncomfortable,” which he said was the purpose, and also stating Lemon expressed surprise police had not yet arrived and admitted knowing “the whole point of [the operation] is to disrupt.”
• The indictment listed additional acts including Lemon asking Armstrong “Who is the person that we should talk to? Is there a pastor or something?,” Armstrong pointing toward the front of the church and noting the pastor “might have run away,” Lemon standing so close to the pastor that the pastor’s right hand grazed Lemon and Lemon admonishing the pastor “Please don’t push me,” and Lemon and the other defendants ignoring the pastor’s request to leave and not immediately leaving the church.

• Marco Rubio appeared before Congress answering questions for the first time about the Trump administration’s policy toward Venezuela, including how involved the U.S. government and military will be.
• Rubio stated the United States has had “productive communication” with the Venezuelan government with the stated objective to stabilize Venezuela.
• Rubio insisted Venezuela and the United States are in a better position now than before when deposed President Nicolas Maduro “was in” power.
• The testimony was presented as a major U.S. foreign policy development tied to the Trump administration’s posture toward Venezuela and the possibility of U.S. governmental and military involvement.

• The Vatican and Christian authorities in Jerusalem announced plans to restore the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the site long venerated as the birthplace of Jesus, marking the first major renovation there in roughly 6 centuries.
• The restoration will be carried out jointly by the Vatican, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and the Custody of the Holy Land, with officials saying work will focus on preserving the cave’s structure and interior features, including the exposed rock, marble flooring, columns, decorations, and the silver star marking the traditional location of Christ’s birth.
• The Italian firm Piacenti SpA, based in Tuscany, will handle the project after previously completing restoration work on the Basilica of the Nativity above the grotto, and the company previously described work at the site as one of the most meaningful projects its restorers had undertaken.
• Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the project as “a sign of great hope and rebirth for the whole Holy Land,” as Bethlehem continues dealing with economic strain following a drop in tourism since the start of the Gaza conflict, with Mayor Maher Canawati saying “2 years of silence; no Christmas, no jobs, no work,” and local business owners and a tour guide expressing hopes visitors will return as conditions stabilize.