The latest chapter in Donald Trump’s ongoing legal drama played out on Monday evening, as a grand jury in Georgia indicted the former president and 18 others as part of a sweeping probe of alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election in the state.
While most of those indicted are lawyers or people with close connections to Trump, at least one is a faith leader: an Illinois pastor and former police chaplain charged in connection with efforts to intimidate Georgia election workers.
The indictment singles out the Rev. Stephen Cliffgard Lee, a pastor within the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod denomination, alleging he and 18 others “unlawfully conspired and endeavored to conduct and participate in criminal enterprise in Fulton County, Georgia, and elsewhere.” Among the specific charges levied against Lee: attempting to influence witnesses and conspiring to solicit false statements and writings.
Lee’s involvement revolves around his efforts to contact Georgia election worker Ruby Freeman in December 2020. Lee appeared at the election worker’s door roughly two weeks after Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, were falsely accused by Trump of pulling fake ballots from suitcases in Georgia, with Trump suggesting they committed election fraud.
According to the indictment and Reuters’ reporting, Lee knocked on Freeman’s door, left and later parked his car in her driveway. Alarmed, Freeman called the police. Police body cam footage uncovered last year by Reuters shows an officer approaching Lee’s car, at which point Lee identified himself as a faith leader.
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“I’m a pastor, and I’m also working with some folks who are trying to help Ruby out — and also get to some truth of what’s going on,” Lee says in the video.
Lee acknowledged he had knocked on Freeman’s door, noting he is also “prior law enforcement,” saying he was a “sergeant out in California.” According to Reuters, Lee served as a police officer in California and then as a police chaplain in New York City.
Later in the body cam video, Lee encouraged the officer to let him speak with the election worker, suggesting he and his cohorts have some “pro-bono service for her.”
According to Reuters, Freeman responded to the offer in a separate body cam video.
“I’m not interested,” she said. She later added: “I have a pastor.”
The indictment alleges the door-knocking incident was part of a broader effort to “influence (Freeman’s) testimony in an official proceeding in Fulton County, Georgia, concerning … the November 3, 2020, presidential election in Georgia.” Prosecutors allege Lee worked with Willie Lewis Floyd III, the head of Black Voices for Trump, and publicist Trevian Kutti to try to influence Freeman. Floyd and Kutti are also among those indicted.
According to the indictment, Lee contacted Floyd after Freeman rejected his offer, with Lee allegedly telling Floyd the election worker wouldn’t talk to him because he was white.
Their efforts culminated a few weeks later on Jan. 4, 2021, when Kutti met with Freeman. The Chicago-based publicist, who also represented rapper and vocal Trump supporter Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, threatened Freeman with jail time unless she provided information on election fraud. The meeting was also captured on police body cam footage.
Up until at least this weekend, Lee served Living Word Lutheran Church in Orland Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. He preached at the church as recently as Sunday, when he delivered a sermon focused on the Book of Job.
Reached by media on Tuesday, a representative for Living Word said Lee was working at the church in an interim capacity but is no longer the pastor. The representative declined to offer any statement regarding Lee’s indictment.
Mike Behr, head of communications for the LCMS, confirmed Lee is a pastor in the denomination but described him as retired, saying, “His status is emeritus.” Behr declined to discuss the indictment, citing a policy of not commenting on ongoing investigations.
Freeman’s daughter, Moss, testified last year before the U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. The committee also released Freeman’s full testimony on the topic.
“I’ve always believed it when God says he will make your name great, but this is not the way it was supposed to be,” Freeman said.
Jack Jenkins es un periodista galardonado y reportero nacional de Religion News Service.
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29 Respuestas
Unless there’s more we don’t know convicting him seems dicey based on what’s reported here since we don’t know what he would have said to her.
He was harassing her, plain and simple. Quit letting people off the hook by equivocating.
Ok, maybe he gets off by the letter of the law… wouldn’t be the first time and if the judge/jury decides that, fine. But what he did was at least idiotic… immature… definitely harassing, and probably lying too (Offering ‘pro-bono’ work? Yeah right. He was trying to trick her into something) Very very unbecoming of a christian pastor. Clearly following the voice of his political ‘god’ vs God.
According to the Reuters article he traveled from is home in Illinois to Georgia to “try to help Ruby out.” And when she understandably would not talk to him he recruited two others to “talk to her.” And when she did talk to them at least one of those people threatened her with jail time if she did not admit to nonexistent election fraud. Yikes, if Georgia can prove it, that definitely sounds like conspiracy to me.
Perhaps, the pastor should have stayed home and cared for his flock instead.
The question i keep coming back to is this-
If we have to lie, cheat and steal to bring about God’s will in America, are we really doing God’s will?
And it’s no big shock that one of the indicted lawyers is Jenna Ellis, the attorney for John MacArthur.
She recently admitted to a Colorado court that she lied regarding Trump’s loss. So there’s no surprise that she did the same thing in Georgia.
Another factor in the exodus of people escaping the church is hypocrisy. Look at the religious background of those who believe in the Trump cult including the other 18 indicted. Proudly showing off your Christian necklace and advocating right wing politics, will drive more away from the faith. Many don’t even know what The Way of Jesus means.
If true, this sure seems like harassment to me. I know nothing about this particular individual. Nor do I have enough information to pass judgement. I am curious, however, to know if there were any pastors in the crowds that illegally intimidated any of the Supreme Court justices after they overturned Roe v. Wade….
I am deeply saddened that Pastor Stephen Lee, a preacher of Lutheran Church, is one of the 19 co-conspirators indicted last Monday. I am so sorry for him that he destroyed his pastoral career in the church instead of preaching the good news of the Lord Jesus. He involved in meddling politics on Trump’s overturning the election results.
I pray for the right attitude to those who withhold assessment of wrong actions by drawing comparisons to other wrong acts. Why can’t we decide on the merits of an action? Usually, apples are compared to oranges e.g riots during Floyd protests and riots on Capitol Hill to overthrow an election. Christians should do better whatever their beliefs.
When did this “harassment” happen again? Wait…wasn’t it in 2020?
Generally speaking, people don’t wait over two years to claim “harassment” unless they have some kind of incentive to do so. Perhaps some kind of financial incentive?
This is part of a criminal suit, not a civil harassment suit. It’s the Georga RICO suit indicting several crimes in furtherance of the conspiracy to overturn the election. He harrassed and tried to influence a witness, Ruby Freeman and her mother. They do have a defamation suit against Rudy Guilanni for the harm he has done to their reputation and lives, but that is a separate matter than this. There is no financial gain in this- only potential jail time and fines for offenders.
Please read the story before commenting it gives the details as to when and why Lee was indicted.
George Arthur:
I’m not sure what part of my comment you failed to understand. I apologize if I was not clear. My only point was this: It appears Fani Willis is out to get President Trump and will do anything she can to get a conviction, including (as others have mentioned) offering immunity to witnesses if they will testify against him and using financial incentives to gain a conviction. At the moment, she is facing potential impeachment.
I read very carefully. You should do the same. Harassment tends to lead people to report it immediately – simple common sense here. In future, please avoid the negative comments. I am fairly certain Julie Roys does not support insulting others on this site.
Using the word ‘Please’ is not insulting.
George Arthur:
Your condescension is incredibly insulting. Do better.
You say, “Generally speaking, people don’t wait over two years to claim “harassment” unless they have some kind of incentive to do so.”
I would ask you for data to support that opinion, but you don’t have any and won’t find any because what you are saying is simply false. Not to mention unkind to the person who has been harassed.
Abram, remember Ms. Norbeck regularly engages in what is called trolling in the Roys Report comments. In comment sections on other websites people are advised not to feed the trolls. Very hard to do I admit, but trolls generally love the attention and the fight. They usually never back up what they say nor can they if challenged.
Reginia:
Accusations on this site are both unkind and reportable. No, I am not a “troll” on this site. And, no, I do not love attention. However, I DO love a fight, especially against those who unjustly attack and accuse those with whom they disagree.
Do better.
Let’s at least face these facts.
1. Trump lost the 2020 election (With no evidence of widespread voter fraud that would have made a difference) Even the AG Bill Barr backed this up.
2. Trump continued to push forward with theories that the election had been stolen. This led to the mess on January 6. Can you least admit this?
3. Leaders in a few states were harassed to overturn the election.
4. Followers of Trump continued and still continue to push forward with the lie that the election was illegitimate and stolen event to the point of harassing and threatening election officials.
Lastly……..are you a troll? Perhaps or perhaps not. Trolls often deny they are trolls yet many of your comments make us wonder.
A test for you. What is seven plus two plus three? To give us the correct answer will at least prove to us you are not a bot. To avoid giving the answer may prove otherwise.
Abram:
Opinions do not require supporting evidence. They are just opinions. That said, common sense leads most of us to conclude that tolerating harassment is unwise. If Ruby felt harassed, why didn’t she file a protective order against those “harassing” her? Instead, she actually continued to engage. So why do you think she is suddenly testifying against Fani’s “criminals” now, after all this time?
Cynthia did you watch the testimony of Shaye Moss and Ruby Freeman from the January 6th hearings?
I watched it in its entirety but all the hearings, Shaye and Ruby’s testimony stood out to me the most.
https://youtu.be/-EKbwg1fQ3w
I would urge you to watch this testimony. You would not be questioning whether they were harassed and whether they deserve justice. Their lives as they knew it were basically ruined. When she and her mom testify to “all the people” who came to their home, this pastor was apparently one of them.
Tricia,
Thanks for the information. I will check it out.
I stand corrected. You said:
>> “Generally speaking, people don’t wait over two years to claim “harassment” unless they have some kind of incentive to do so.”
Your statement is falsifiable (and, in fact, false), so it is *not* an opinion after all. It is a wrong belief.
Abram:
If you cannot understand the point I was making, there is nothing I can say to help you. Common Sense leads most sentient beings to understand that harassment should be immediately reported and protection obtained. In Ruby’s case, she actually engaged further with the so-called harassment.
Since you claim my statement is “falsifiable,” why not try to falsify it with the evidence presented in this story?
Here is a definition of “opinion” that might help you:
Opinion: “a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.”
In the meantime, and in future, I would recommend you attempt civility with all posters, including those who get under your skin. Until I see that, I will ignore your comments completely. I do not tolerate harassment in any form.
Cynthia, yep, I’m keeping it civil. And am civilly telling you (and for any other impressionable minds reading here) that you are mistaken/wrong/incorrect in what you said about delayed reports of harassment.
I have my doubts about CN. I cordially asked her to read the story and consider the issues prior to commenting and I was shamed for it.
Others here believe she is using trollish tactics (Which she denies). I have engaged in several online conversations with others like her and and in a few cases I was led to believe that the user was in fact a bot. This is why I responded to one of her comments with a simple spelled out math problem for her to solve. I find that chat-bots avoid doing math problems since It’s not in their programming. But then I could be wrong.
It isn’t just LCMS. My Free Lutheran pastor prayed for the “pending” election weeks after the votes were counted. After years, I remain nervous and hyper vigilant with each sermon.
The Chicago Tribune had a story today about Rev. Lee’s surrender Friday in Georgia yesterday..Apparently he was able to be released on bail “when a fund set up by the Illinois Family Institute raised the $7500 needed”. Yikes! On their webpage the IFI states it “works within the state of Illinois to promote and defend Biblical truths”. Where does aiding a person indicted for election interference by a Georgia grand jury fail in that category?