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

[CrimeDawg123]

Gift NYT article:

The former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested late Thursday night on charges that he violated federal law during a protest at a church in St. Paul, Minn., his lawyer said, in a case rejected last week by a magistrate judge.

Mr. Lemon has said he was simply reporting as a journalist when he entered the Cities Church on Jan. 18 to observe a demonstration against the immigration crackdown in the area.

The protesters interrupted a service at the church, where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official serves as a pastor, and chanted “ICE out.” Afterward, the Trump administration sought to charge eight people over the episode, including Mr. Lemon, citing a law that protects people seeking to participate in a service in a house of worship.

But the magistrate judge who reviewed the evidence approved charges against only three of the people, rejecting the evidence against Mr. Lemon and the others as insufficient. The Justice Department then petitioned a federal appeals court to force the judge to issue the additional warrants, only to be denied.

Federal Agents Arrest Don Lemon Over Minnesota Church Protest

The former CNN anchor has said he was not demonstrating, but reporting as a journalist, during the interruption of a service inside a St. Paul church earlier this month.

www.nytimes.com

 

[CrimeDawg123]

Gift NYT article:

The former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested late Thursday night on charges that he violated federal law during a protest at a church in St. Paul, Minn., his lawyer said, in a case rejected last week by a magistrate judge.

Mr. Lemon has said he was simply reporting as a journalist when he entered the Cities Church on Jan. 18 to observe a demonstration against the immigration crackdown in the area.

The protesters interrupted a service at the church, where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official serves as a pastor, and chanted “ICE out.” Afterward, the Trump administration sought to charge eight people over the episode, including Mr. Lemon, citing a law that protects people seeking to participate in a service in a house of worship.

But the magistrate judge who reviewed the evidence approved charges against only three of the people, rejecting the evidence against Mr. Lemon and the others as insufficient. The Justice Department then petitioned a federal appeals court to force the judge to issue the additional warrants, only to be denied.

Federal Agents Arrest Don Lemon Over Minnesota Church Protest

The former CNN anchor has said he was not demonstrating, but reporting as a journalist, during the interruption of a service inside a St. Paul church earlier this month.

www.nytimes.com

It will be interesting to see how they justify arresting him if the charges were rejected by the magistrate judge last week, and denied additional warrants by the federal appeals court judge.

 

[sds71]

@DeRushaJ


Independent Twin Cities journalist Georgia Fort says federal agents came to her door at 6:30am and arrested her for filming the protest at that St. Paul church. Via her Facebook:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2017220920503390434

 

[CrimeDawg123]

STATEMENT FROM ABBE LOWELL, ATTORNEY FOR DON LEMON

Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents last night in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy awards. Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done. 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.

Instead of investigating the federal agents who killed two peaceful Minnesota protesters, the Trump Justice Department is devoting its time, attention and resources to this arrest, and that is the real indictment of wrongdoing in this case. This unprecedented attack on the First Amendment and transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration will not stand. Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court.

https://bsky.app/profile/donlemonofficial.bsky.social%2Fpost%2F3mdne5h2ac22c

 

[sds71]

At my direction, early this morning federal agents arrested Don Lemon, Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Lydell Lundy, in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.More details soon.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2017238803639845115

 

[NoClouseau]

''In an interview with Lemon, a demonstrator described the action as a clandestine operation in which they disrupt “business as usual” at a surprise location. Three demonstrators have already been arrested in connection with the protest on charges of conspiring to interfere with the civil rights of others.''

Lemon was in Los Angeles covering the Grammys when he was arrested.

Photo credit : Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images

Ex-CNN anchor Don Lemon arrested on charges connected to Minnesota church protest

Lemon’s lawyer said he was taken into custody after attending protest in which demonstrators disrupted a church service earlier in January

www.theguardian.com

Don Lemon was arrested while covering the Grammys, his lawyer said.

 

[CrimeDawg123]

At my direction, early this morning federal agents arrested Don Lemon, Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Lydell Lundy, in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.More details soon.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2017238803639845115

"Details soon". This should be good.

 

[CrimeDawg123]

Tipping Point: Democratic Erosion and the Assault on Press Freedom​

“Independent journalism is fundamental to democratic governance because it scrutinizes government actions, exposes corruption, and enables informed citizen participation. When governments arrest or otherwise crack down on journalists — especially on vague or politically motivated grounds — they undermine press freedom and the independent oversight that sustains democracy, creating conditions that can accelerate a slide toward authoritarian governance.”

Tipping Point: Democratic Erosion and the Assault on Press Freedom

The majority of people now live under illiberal regimes or some form of autocracy as a consequence of democratic declines occurring globally since 2010. Understanding the driving forces behind this…

www.cima.ned.org