Image: from 93.1 WZAK X@931wzak
By Open Chronicle News Desk
ST. PAUL, MN — Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested and charged with federal crimes on Friday following his coverage of an anti-immigration enforcement (ICE) protest that disrupted a church service in Minnesota earlier this month.
The arrest took place on Thursday night in Los Angeles, where Lemon was on assignment covering the Grammy Awards. According to federal prosecutors and a statement from Attorney General Pam Bondi, Lemon is charged with conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers. The charges stem from a January 18 demonstration at Cities Church in St. Paul, where an ICE official serves as a pastor.
“Former CNN journalist Don Lemon has been arrested FOR COVERING an incident in which anti-ICE protesters disrupted a service at a Minnesota church, multiple sources told ABC News.”
Fixed it for y’all.
The media is putrid. https://t.co/HqB2uETMd6
— Badlydone Emma is with her #Harris2024 (@chemimommy) January 30, 2026
The protest followed a wave of local outrage and civil unrest sparked by the fatal shootings of US citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis. Authorities allege that Lemon and other individuals were part of a “coordinated attack” on the place of worship.
However, Lemon’s legal team and press freedom advocates have vehemently denied these allegations. “Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done,” said defense attorney Abbe Lowell. During his livestream of the event, Lemon repeatedly stated, “I’m not here as an activist. I’m here as a journalist,” while interviewing both churchgoers and demonstrators.
In addition to Lemon, independent Minnesota journalist Georgia Fort and two activists were also taken into custody. The arrests have drawn sharp criticism from civil rights leaders and media organizations, who describe the Department of Justice’s actions as a “sledgehammer” to the First Amendment, especially after a federal magistrate judge had initially rejected the government’s bid for arrest warrants last week.
Lemon was released from custody following a court appearance on Friday but is expected to fight the charges, which carry a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison for the most serious counts.