Shocking headlines have emerged as former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested and charged in connection with an anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church — a case that is quickly becoming one of the most closely watched legal battles involving press freedom, the First Amendment, and federal power.
Don Lemon Arrested Over Anti-ICE Protest Coverage at Minnesota Church
On January 30, federal agents arrested 59-year-old Don Lemon in Los Angeles while he was covering the Grammy Awards. The arrest stems from a January 18 protest at a St. Paul church, where demonstrators interrupted a religious service to protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Lemon has been charged with:
- Conspiracy against rights of religious freedom at a place of worship
- Injury, intimidation, and interference with the exercise of religious freedom
These charges came from a grand jury indictment filed in the U.S. District Court of Minnesota, and include eight other individuals, including fellow independent journalist Georgia Fort and activist Trahern Jeen Crews.
Prosecutors Say Protest Was Disruptive, But Lemon Claims Journalistic Intent
According to the indictment, prosecutors accuse Lemon and Fort of helping to organize or participate in a “takeover-style attack” that left church members “traumatized.” The protest involved chanting, whistles, and livestreaming during a service, allegedly aimed at disrupting immigration enforcement actions.
However, Lemon and his legal team say he was simply doing his job as a journalist, covering the protest—not participating in it.
“I have spent my entire career covering the news. I will not stop now,” Lemon told reporters after his court appearance.
Supporters and Legal Defense Push Back
Lemon’s attorneys, Marilyn Bednarski and Abbe Lowell, have strongly denied the charges. They claim the Justice Department has taken extraordinary and politically motivated steps to prosecute Lemon, despite a previous judge rejecting the case due to lack of evidence.
Lemon is currently free on bond, with the following conditions:
- May travel freely within the U.S.
- May keep his passport, but must get approval for international travel
- Must avoid all contact with witnesses or victims in the case
He is expected to appear in court next on Monday, February 9 in Minneapolis.
Background: Government’s Unusual Pursuit of Charges
Initially, the Department of Justice had tried to charge Lemon and others soon after the protest. But Minnesota Chief District Judge Patrick Schiltz only allowed charges against three individuals, ruling there was insufficient evidence to include Lemon.
Now, a newly unsealed 14-page indictment shows that federal prosecutors went back to a grand jury to revive the charges. Critics argue this is part of a broader campaign targeting journalists and activists critical of immigration enforcement under the Trump-era legal playbook.
Lemon Speaks Out After Arrest
Outside the Edward R. Roybal Federal Courthouse in Los Angeles, Lemon, hand-in-hand with his husband Tim Malone, stood strong and defiant.
“Last night, the DOJ sent a team of federal agents to arrest me in the middle of the night for something that I have been doing for the last 30 years, and that is covering the news,” he said.
Lemon added that this prosecution will not silence him, and that the First Amendment protects journalists like him.
