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

 

[Inthedetails]

FWIW, the few journalists I know take their role very seriously and they know the very first amendment of the Bills of Rights calls for freedom of the press.

Democracy depends on free press, to hold authority to accountability, to keep the public informed. Responsible voting depends on being informed - and people are informed through a free press. This not a light matter and journalists take it seriously (as well as knowing they have to "sell newspapers").

This will be a case where freedom of the press will be at its core and we'll see who is strong enough to accept scrutiny of the press.

My opinion

 

[tlcya]

retribution. Plain and simple. JMO

 

[Inthedetails]

retribution. Plain and simple. JMO View attachment 640630

And intimidating reporters and underming public trust in reporting. jmo

 

[Summerliz03]

This is an opinion piece but thought it was fitting to share here. It’s from August 2025.

The US jailing and silencing of journalists follows the autocrat’s playbook

The nation that once demanded press freedom abroad is denying it at home — and emboldening other governments that persecute the press.

thehill.com

 

[otto]

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

From your link, the Whitehouse has published false information regarding the event.

"The administration posted arrest photos of the first arrests over the church protest, and a White House social media account posted a doctored photo of one of the people to make it look as if she was crying.

Original

https://twitter.com/x/status/2014358158588723399

Whitehouse propaganda

https://twitter.com/x/status/2014365986388951194

 

[otto]

Were the people who participated in the demonstration members of the church? Did they use a religious sanctuary for political activism even though they had no affiliation with the church?

"Lemon livestreamed a demonstration that interrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, earlier this month that protested President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown in the area."

Former CNN journalist Don Lemon arrested after church protest in Minnesota

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon has been arrested for his involvement in a protest at a church in Minnesota, his lawyer and a U.S. Justice Department official familiar with the situation said on Friday.

www.reuters.com

 

[Inthedetails]

Were the people who participated in the demonstration members of the church? Did they use a religious sanctuary for political activism even though they had no affiliation with the church?

"Lemon livestreamed a demonstration that interrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, earlier this month that protested President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown in the area."

Former CNN journalist Don Lemon arrested after church protest in Minnesota

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon has been arrested for his involvement in a protest at a church in Minnesota, his lawyer and a U.S. Justice Department official familiar with the situation said on Friday.

www.reuters.com

The question in this case is did LEMON participate or was he serving as press.

Press members are not participants.

That will be the question - was Lemon acting as press?

jmo

 

[sds71]

the White House's official X account gloats over the arrest of Don Lemon with a chains emoji

https://twitter.com/x/status/2017253945240936917

 

[otto]

Is this why there were arrests: it is prohibited to interfere with any person who is seeking to exercise first amendment rights of religious freedom at a place of religious worship?

"Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994

Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit: (2) intentionally injuring, intimidating, or interfering with, or attempting to injure, intimidate, or interfere, any person by force, threat of force, or physical obstruction exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship"

https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/senate-bill/636

 

[otto]

The question in this case is did LEMON participate or was he serving as press.

Press members are not participants.

That will be the question - was Lemon acting as press?

jmo

If he is not a member of the church, but entered the church with a camera to film worshippers and thus interfere with the first amendment rights of the people in the church, is that a form of intimidation? It sounds like he was there to disagree and expose, not to respect and worship.

 

[CrimeDawg123]

the White House's official X account gloats over the arrest of Don Lemon with a chains emoji

https://twitter.com/x/status/2017253945240936917

Harmeet Dhillon, the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice, retweeted a post calling Lemon a "klansman".

Let that sink in

 

[waldojabba]

And intimidating reporters and underming public trust in reporting. jmo

It's a show of force -
You think you have rights ?
Watch this !
Pushing the envelope
They all believe that the law does not apply to them -
Judges orders ? they are immune to those too
And it all comes with a side of chaos
It's the sF
Fear/Compliance is the point
JMO