Don Lemon Arrested After Minnesota Church Protest

Don Lemon, the former CNN anchor and a familiar face in American journalism, found himself at the center of a high-stakes legal and political drama this week after being arrested and charged in connection with a protest at a Minnesota church. The incident, which has ignited debate over press freedom, government overreach, and the intersection of journalism and activism, unfolded against the backdrop of heightened tensions around immigration enforcement in the United States.

Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents in Los Angeles on January 29, 2026, while covering the Grammy Awards, according to CBS News and BBC. The arrest stemmed from his involvement in a protest that disrupted a service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, on January 18—a protest organized after it was revealed that one of the church’s pastors was also an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official. Demonstrators, including Lemon, entered the church, chanting for justice for Renee Good, a mother-of-three who was fatally shot earlier in the month during a confrontation with ICE officers in Minneapolis.

Federal prosecutors allege that Lemon, alongside eight co-defendants, conspired to deprive religious rights and violated the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances and Places of Religious Worship (FACE) Act—a statute historically used to address disruptions at abortion clinics but also applicable to houses of worship. The indictment claims that Lemon and others physically occupied the church’s main aisle, intimidated congregants and pastors, and ignored requests to leave. Lemon, who livestreamed the protest preparations and the event itself, is accused of taking steps to maintain secrecy about the protest’s target and allegedly confronting congregants as they tried to exit.

After appearing in federal court in Los Angeles on January 30, Lemon was released on his own recognizance, without posting bond. He did not enter a plea at the hearing; his next court appearance is scheduled for February 9 in Minneapolis. The judge imposed standard travel restrictions but permitted a previously planned trip to France in June and ordered Lemon to avoid contact with known victims, witnesses, and co-defendants. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who attended the hearing, described Lemon's detention as "shocking" and "alarming."

Outside the courthouse, Lemon addressed reporters, stating, “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. I will not be silenced.” He continued, “The First Amendment of the Constitution protects that work for me and for countless other journalists who do what I do. I stand with all of them, and I will not be silenced. I look forward to my day in court.”

Lemon’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, issued a strong statement condemning the charges as an "unprecedented attack on the First Amendment and transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration." Lowell added, “Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court.” According to BBC, Lowell also emphasized that Lemon was in Los Angeles covering the Grammy Awards at the time of his arrest and reiterated Lemon’s commitment to journalism, stating, “The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable. There is no more important time for people like Don to be doing this work.”

The Department of Justice, led by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, maintains that Lemon and his co-defendants participated in a “coordinated attack” on the church. Bondi confirmed that three other individuals—Georgia Fort, Trahem Jeen Crews, and Jamael Lydell Lundy—were also arrested and later released after their initial court appearances in Minnesota. The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations, a division of the Department of Homeland Security, were involved in the arrests. Bondi’s office has stated its intention to pursue the case “to the ends of the Earth.”

The protest at Cities Church was part of a wave of demonstrations in Minnesota following federal immigration operations that left two U.S. citizens dead: Renee Good and Alex Pretti, a nurse. Lemon’s livestream of the event began in a parking lot, where he told viewers, “This is an operation that is secret. I can't tell you what is going to happen, but you're going to watch it live unfold here on 'The Don Lemon Show.'” During the protest, Lemon repeatedly asserted his role as an independent journalist, telling viewers, “We're not part of the activists, but we're here just reporting on them.” The scene inside the church grew chaotic, with protesters and congregants shouting at each other, and the pastor calling the disruption “unacceptable” and “shameful.”

The legal proceedings leading up to Lemon’s arrest were far from straightforward. The Trump administration had initially sought charges against eight individuals involved in the protest, but a magistrate judge approved only three, excluding Lemon. The government challenged this decision, and an appellate court suggested prosecutors take the case to a federal grand jury. The Justice Department reportedly scrutinized Lemon’s video of the protest planning session as potential evidence of a conspiracy to interfere with religious rights, though sources close to Lemon maintain that he was filming as part of his reporting.

Reactions to Lemon’s arrest have been swift and polarized. CNN, Lemon’s former employer, called the arrest “profoundly concerning” and raised questions about press freedom and the First Amendment. The network stated, “The First Amendment in the United States protects journalists who bear witness to news and events as they unfold, ensuring they can report freely in the public interest, and the DOJ's attempts to violate those rights is unacceptable.”

The White House, meanwhile, appeared to take a less sympathetic view, posting a photo of Lemon on its official X account with the caption “when life gives you lemons,” alongside a chain link emoji—a move that drew criticism from press advocates and some political observers. Julius Nam, a former federal prosecutor, warned that the case could set a dangerous precedent: “This case could set a dangerous precedent for charging reporters who cover protests for the conduct of the protesters if there was any prior communication with the protesters, and could even expose American journalists embedded with the U.S. military to being charged with war crimes along with soldiers who may commit such crimes.”

Lemon’s arrest is the second high-profile incident this month involving federal investigations of journalists. On January 14, the FBI executed a search warrant at the home of a Washington Post reporter, seizing her devices over an alleged leak of classified information, though she was not charged with any crime. These events have heightened concerns among free speech advocates and journalists about the boundaries of press freedom and the potential chilling effect on reporting.

Lemon, who was fired from CNN in April 2023 after 17 years with the network, has since launched his own independent show on YouTube and announced plans for “The Don Lemon Show” on X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk. As the legal battle unfolds, Lemon has vowed to continue his work, insisting, “There is no more important time than right now, this very moment, for a free and independent media that shines a light on the truth and holds those in power accountable.”

As Lemon’s case moves toward a February hearing in Minneapolis, it stands as a flashpoint in the ongoing struggle over the rights of journalists, the reach of federal law enforcement, and the responsibilities of the media in a polarized America. The outcome may well shape the contours of press freedom for years to come.