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Former CNN Anchor, Don Lemon Arrested

Minnesota Church Protest

Updated: Don Lemon Released on Own Recognizance After Bond Hearing; Federal Indictment Unsealed


Since the time the original article was released former CNN anchor Don Lemon was released from federal custody on his own recognizance on Friday following a bond hearing in Los Angeles. His release comes after a federal grand jury indictment was unsealed detailing serious charges against him and eight co-defendants related to the January 18 anti-ICE protest that disrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota.


Indictment Details

The 12-page federal indictment charges Lemon and eight others with two felony counts:

1. Conspiracy Against Rights (18 U.S.C. § 241) This statute, part of the post-Civil War Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, makes it a crime for two or more people to conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person in the free exercise of their constitutional rights — in this case, the right to freely exercise religion.


2. Violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act (18 U.S.C. § 248) Originally passed in 1994 to protect abortion clinics and places of religious worship. Although this Act has most commonly been used to jail protestors praying outside of abortion clinics, the FACE Act also prohibits the use of force, threats, physical obstruction, or intimidation to interfere with a person’s religious freedom at a place of worship. Violators can face up to 1 year in prison for a first offense.


According to the indictment, Lemon is accused of crossing the line from journalist to active participant. Prosecutors allege he attended a pre-protest planning meeting, live-streamed the disruption, encouraged secrecy, and physically joined protesters who entered Cities Church, blocked aisles, and confronted the pastor. The document claims Lemon described the action as “civil disobedience” and helped surround the pastor during the confrontation.

This is one of the most high-profile applications of the FACE Act to protect a church service in recent years.


Bond Hearing Outcome

During Friday afternoon’s bond hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia Donahue rejected the government’s request for a $100,000 bond and strict travel restrictions. Lemon was released with minimal conditions: no contact with victims or co-defendants, and prior court approval required for international travel.


Lemon’s legal team called the charges an attack on press freedom. Upon leaving the courthouse, Lemon stated, “I will not be silenced.” His next court appearance is scheduled for February 9 in Minneapolis.


Key Video Evidence


Original Article

Independent journalist and former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested late Thursday night by federal agents in Beverly Hills, California, in connection with a disruptive anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church earlier this month. The arrest, executed by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations around midnight, marks a dramatic escalation in a case that has drawn sharp criticism from press freedom advocates and ignited debates over the boundaries of journalism during protests.



Lemon, 59, who was in Los Angeles covering the upcoming Grammy Awards, faces federal charges including conspiracy to deprive individuals of their civil rights, interference with the First Amendment rights of worshippers (specifically their right to free exercise of religion), and violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. Prosecutors allege that Lemon crossed the line from reporting to active participation in the January 18 incident at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where demonstrators interrupted a Sunday service to protest against a pastor affiliated with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The FACE Act, typically used to protect access to reproductive health clinics, is being applied here in an analogous manner to safeguard religious services, a move that has raised eyebrows among legal experts.


U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, appointed under the Trump administration, publicly confirmed the arrest on social media Friday morning, stating that she personally directed the action against Lemon and three others "in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church." The other arrestees include independent Minnesota journalist Georgia Fort and two local activists, all charged in relation to the same protest. This follows an earlier wave of arrests last week, when three other protesters were detained in Minnesota.



The path to Lemon's arrest was fraught with legal hurdles. Federal prosecutors' initial attempts to secure arrest warrants were rejected multiple times by a magistrate judge in Minnesota, who cited insufficient probable cause. An appellate court also declined to intervene. Despite these setbacks, the Department of Justice (DOJ) persisted, ultimately obtaining a warrant that allowed for the cross-country arrest in California. Sources familiar with the case suggest the DOJ may have presented additional evidence or reframed the charges to overcome the judicial resistance.


Lemon's attorney, Abbe Lowell, condemned the arrest as an "unprecedented attack on the First Amendment," emphasizing that his client was present solely as a journalist documenting the event. "Don was doing what journalists do: covering a story," Lowell said in a statement. Press freedom organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, echoed these concerns, warning that the charges could set a dangerous precedent for reporters embedded in volatile situations.


Remarkably, Lemon appeared to anticipate his arrest. Just a week prior, he alluded to potential federal repercussions during a YouTube broadcast, stating, "They're coming for me next." This foresight has fueled speculation about leaks from within the DOJ or heightened scrutiny on outspoken critics of immigration policies under the current administration.

As of 1:43 PM PST, Lemon remains in federal custody awaiting a bond hearing scheduled for 2:00 PM PST in a Los Angeles federal courthouse. His initial court appearance, which may include arraignment, is expected to follow shortly thereafter. Under federal procedures, such hearings must occur promptly—typically within 48 hours of arrest, excluding weekends.

The case unfolds against a backdrop of intensified immigration enforcement and political tensions. The St. Paul protest targeted a church pastor linked to ICE, highlighting ongoing clashes between activists and federal authorities. Critics on the right have praised the arrests as a stand against "coordinated attacks" on religious institutions, while left-leaning voices decry it as selective prosecution amid broader crackdowns on dissent.


Criticisms and Public Reactions

The incident has sparked significant backlash against Lemon's involvement, with some commentators accusing him of crossing ethical lines. For instance, a YouTube video titled "Don Lemon’s Church Protest Scandal Just Backfired" features podcast hosts discussing how Lemon allegedly participated in the disruption.




If convicted, Lemon could face significant penalties, including fines and imprisonment.

Updates on the court proceedings are expected later today. This story is developing.


Sources:

Web Sources:

  1. NBC News: Don Lemon arrested by federal authorities after protest at Minnesota church

  2. MPR News: Feds charge journalist Don Lemon over Minnesota church protest

  3. PBS NewsHour: Trump administration charges Don Lemon with federal civil rights crimes

  4. USA Today: What we know about the church protest tied to Don Lemon's arrest

  5. BBC: Ex-CNN host arrested after anti-ICE protest at Minnesota church

  6. Fox News: Don Lemon faces federal criminal charges after anti-ICE protest disrupted Minnesota church

  7. Axios: Don Lemon arrested after conservative backlash to Minnesota church protest

  8. Washington Post: Don Lemon arrested by federal officials in connection with church protest

  9. YouTube: Don Lemon’s Church Protest Scandal Just Backfired

X Posts (Critical or Relevant):

  1. @TheBrancaShow: Criticism of Lemon's participation

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