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The Trump administration disrupted services at a Minnesota church on Thursday and arrested a civil rights attorney known for her role in anti-immigration enforcement protests.
On the official X page, the White House posted a picture of Nekeema Levi Armstrong standing in front of a man wearing a badge around his neck, her hands behind her back, in tears.
But in reality, Levi Armstrong wasn’t crying. The main image showed her with a neutral expression. The image is edited to make the moment more dramatic.
Certain details of both images are similar, indicating that they are not just photos taken at different times. For example, the badge worn by the man behind Levi Armstrong is in the same position, as are the lights shining through the curtain to the left of Levi Armstrong’s head.
United States Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrest of Levi Armstrong at 9:28 a.m. Thursday on the X-Post.
Less than an hour later, at 10:21 a.m., US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Nome posted the original photo of Levi Armstrong on X as well:
Homeland Security investigators and FBI agents have arrested Nekima Levi Armstrong, who played a key role in coordinating the church riots in St. Paul, Minnesota.
She was charged with a federal crime under 18 USC 241.
Religious freedom is the foundation of the United States -… pic.twitter.com/LHh994fXf3
The White House then posted the composite image at 10:54 a.m. ET. Readers pointed out that the article was incorrect and attached the original photo to the article.
Jordan Kushner, a lawyer for Levi Armstrong, said he was present during his client’s arrest and said that the video footage and photographs provided by the administration showing her crying were redacted.
“It’s outrageous that the White House is making up stories about someone to try and discredit him,” Kushner said. She is completely calm and skilled and logical. No one was crying. So this is a terrible slander.
He added that the video “destroys what they say” that Levi Armstrong’s husband was shot and that the video would be released soon.
As questions over the image grow, White House Deputy Communications Director Kellan Dorr wrote on X Thursday afternoon: “To those who feel the need to retaliate against the perpetrators of the heinous crimes they have committed in our country again, I share this message: Law enforcement will continue. The memos will continue. Thank you for your attention to this issue.”
Levi Armstrong and at least two other people were arrested following a protest Sunday at the Church of the Cites in St. Paul, Minn., where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official serves as pastor.
The Justice Department quickly opened a civil rights investigation after the group interrupted the service chanting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good” in reference to the 37-year-old mother of three who was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Minneapolis earlier this month.
Neither the White House nor Homeland Security immediately responded to requests for additional comment.