MN - Journalist Don Lemon arrested for church protest, Minneapolis, 18 Jan 2026

[witchway]

I think Carl Bernstein, Bob Woodward, and Daniel Ellsberg would all disagree. I think it's up to each of us to determine what makes a credible journalist. There's a reason the press has more freedoms than the rest of us. MOO.

I just spoke with a neighbor of mine that was (now retired) journalist from a local news station. Also, now is a minister. He has some great stories, but thats beside the point. I asked him some questions regarding the issues raised here. His answer simply is as a journalist you go where the story is. A church, anywhere it does not matter, because thats where the action is period. You are an observer and reporter. He said this whole thing - indictment was to intimidate press. He spoke about trespassing laws, and said well an expletive. Freedom of the press is very important. So thats his 2 cents.

 

[Rolypolyoly]

the correct answer is "immediately." The fact that DL stayed 2 minutes or 7 or 13 is evidence that he was part of the demonstration.
It doesn't matter if you are a journalist, if you are asked to leave private property, you leave. You have no right to remain after that moment.

Its not evidence that he was part of the demonstration at all, at best it is evidence he was trespassing, after the point he was asked to leave which he hasn't as yet been charged for.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

Would it be ok for a white male or group thereof, to walk into a mosque at the beginning of prayers, begin yelling and prevent the prayers, for the purpose of telling those in attendance that a member of their mosque was an employee of a government agency? And then refuse to leave until the prayer service was abandoned?

Well, Don Lemon didn't do that. He only covered the people who did that, as far as I know.

MOO.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

Is Grand Jury not the correct way for a federal indictment?

But you are listening to argument from a biased group, the journalists. Do we all agree that we all must obey the law? Yes. If DL broke the law, is he not subject to indictment? Yes. And the grand jury so found.

Many people who've been indicted by a GJ had their cases dismissed or were found not guilty. So GJ means little, especially when this administration has lost credibility with GJs.

MOO.

 

[Deleted member 117884]

BBM:



Gov. Tim Walz sent a letter today to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, demanding details about the number of children being held in detention facilities and urging the federal agency to stop enforcement tactics that place children at risk.

Live: Judge orders release of suspects in alleged shovel attack on agent

Department of Homeland Security says agent fired in self-defense after being attacked with a snow shovel and broom.

www.startribune.com

 

[CSIDreamer]

I have asked OP for a quoted link. So they can show what MN law says. I don't think the time frame has been determined yet. Just speculated upon.

imo

Why do you think there's a time frame? I'm genuinely curious.

 

[Izzylizzy]

I'm curious if Pam Bondi presented the case to the Grand Jury ?

 

[SouthAussie]

Why do you think there's a time frame? I'm genuinely curious.

It was an interesting point brought up by sillybilly in a previous post.
If there may be impediments to a person immediately leaving. If there may be other factors involved. I wonder what the MN law says. Or if it is a judgement call made by a judge.

imo

 

[303gmf]

So an agent that works for ICE, who goes to work, does his/her job, should be outed and shamed? And you know that that means they will be attacked in public. That is ok with you? Or did you mean, those ICE agents that you think break the law should be outed and shamed? Because that isn't what you said.

Again, Pretzel logic
Post after post refuting the position and opinions

Hunting human beings as a job with a sideline as a pastor or whatever church title he claims

 

[Hexe]

DL whether he thought so or not, was violating the FACE Act. He was interfering and obstructing.

How? He started commenting and interviewing people only after the protest already disrupted the service. So how was he disrupting a service that already ended due to disruption? What exactly was he obstructing?

 

[Hexe]

And that bothered the militants who then decided that it was their job to attack that church and make it dangerous to the congregants to attend.

How did they exactly made it dangerous? By chanting?

 

[Hexe]

It came to a halt and DL was part of that.

Give me any evidence of DL being part of it, please.

 

[Hexe]

Don Lemon is doing that on his own.

That's what "independent journalist" means.

 

[CSIDreamer]

It was an interesting point brought up by sillybilly in a previous post.
If there may be impediments to a person immediately leaving. If there may be other factors involved. I wonder what the MN law says. Or if it is a judgement call made by a judge.

imo

Thanks! I was just wondering if you had your own opinion based on any laws you're aware of. JMO

 

[witchway]

I'm curious if Pam Bondi presented the case to the Grand Jury ?

I don’t think it was legitimate. I looked at James Comey’s indictment and its stamped under seal and the foreperson’s signature is somewhat covered up. But it is signed by the prosecutor. However the indictment presented to the press for Lemon and others is totally blank for those places. 2 different states so who knows. But I have had doubts all along.

source: james comey indictment (last page)
https://d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net/static/2025/09/comey-indictment.pdf

Don Lemon Indictment page 14 Don Lemon indictment


This is my opinion only

 

[SouthAussie]

Thanks! I was just wondering if you had your own opinion based on any laws you're aware of. JMO

No, I don't have any opinion. Just curiosity.

From the photos I saw in the Washington Post (article linked by me earlier), the congregation had left their seats and had formed a line across the church facing the protesters. Some people with hands in their pockets, 4 others talking in a separate group, another filming.

Without touching anyone, it may have taken Don some relatively short time to excuse himself through the congregation and then through the protesters. IDK

imo

 

[tricia]

So because he is an ICE agent (federal agent) he is a white nationalist, and his church is as well? That is what you are advocating. And supporting the attack on his church and its members.

Hey PrairieWind.
I have to get ready for the YouTube livestream, but I want to come back later tonight and address this.
No one that I have seen is saying that because he is an ICE agent, he is a white nationalist, and so is his church.
If someone actually says this, please alert on the post. However, there is proof of his ties to white nationalism, as well as some of the higher-ups in his church. I am not talking about the congregation. Again. I will get you all the links and such later tonight after the livestream. Thank you for your patience.

 

[Ruminations]

Was Don Lemon entitled to some other special grand jury process for celebrities? or journalists?

I am not a lawyer. But, no.

Whether the target is famous or unknown, a journalist or a protester, a grand jury is convened to review the prosecution's evidence to determine if there is enough evidence to charge a "target." The grand jury is presented with the elements of the crime, and behaviors that they think they can prove occurred.

The jurors only look at what the prosecutor shows them. There is no defense presented. The "defense" indeed often does not know that the grand jury convened about them.

In this situation, the primary defense might be that Don Lemon is a journalist. And it is probable that the prosecutor did not mention this to the grand jury. Even if some jurors are familiar with his work, their job is not to figure out defenses.

It's a low bar to get a grand jury to agree to indict. That's why many prosecutors decide not to do so, even after a GJ approval.

MOO

 

[Ruminations]

Did he leave when asked to leave?

No.

Not leaving after you've been asked to leave the premises is in fact refusing to leave.

If someone asks me to take a bite of spinach and I won't open my mouth, I am in fact refusing to eat the spinach.

I don't have to say, "No, I'm not going to eat this spinach."

When LE orders an armed criminal to drop their weapon, and the criminal continues to hang onto the gun, they are in fact refusing to drop their weapon. They don't have to say, "No, I will not drop my weapon" for LE to conclude they're not following lawful orders.

Non-compliance with a request is in fact refusing to follow it.

DL was asked to leave. He did not do so when asked.

Impeding. Interfering. Obstructing.

That's not journalism.

JMO.

Wow.

A church official isn't LE.

No protester was carrying a weapon.

This was not a private party, it was a church service open to the pubic. Rescinding the invitation might require a bit more conversation than asking an assailant to drop a weapon.

This analogy is quite the reach.

MOO

 

[witchway]

They thought a coordinated invasion of the church, while engaging in acts of oppression, intimidation, threats, interference, and physical obstruction was a good idea. ( imo and from the indictment that includes Don Lemon).

The only peaceful people that day, were the congregants, who accepted strangers among them. Don Lemon had the nerve to ask the pastor if they were not allowed to worship. Why didn’t the just sit quietly and worship?

Because Don Lemon is a reporter like it or not and was reporting on the protest. jmo