Don Lemon arrested by federal agents after covering a politically charged church protest, igniting backlash from press freedom advocates and civil rights groups nationwide.
Former CNN anchor and independent journalist Don Lemon was arrested by federal authorities in Los Angeles Thursday night while in town for the Grammys — and supporters say the move looks less like justice and more like retaliation against a journalist who refuses to stay silent.
Lemon’s arrest is tied to a January 18, 2026 protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where immigration activists disrupted a Sunday service to speak out against aggressive federal enforcement policies. Lemon, according to his legal team, was there to document the moment — not participate in it.
Still, federal agents swept in weeks later, arresting Lemon alongside three others after a Justice Department investigation that critics say is dangerously blurring the line between journalism and criminalization.
What Really Led to Don Lemon’s Arrest
The protest occurred at Cities Church, where demonstrators entered during services chanting against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and calling attention to what they described as harmful and controversial immigration enforcement actions.
NEW: Don Lemon tries lecturing a pastor on the First Amendment after a mob of far leftists stormed a church in Minneapolis.
Pastor: “This is unacceptable. It’s shameful to interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship…”
Lemon: “Listen, there’s a constitution, the First… pic.twitter.com/joHdCvaXe6
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 18, 2026
Lemon was present with recording equipment, documenting events as they unfolded — the same type of reporting journalists have done for decades during protests, civil unrest, and political demonstrations.
Despite that, Attorney General Pam Bondi publicly announced the arrests, describing the protest as a “coordinated attack” on the church and listing Lemon among those taken into custody — a framing that has raised eyebrows across media and civil liberties circles.
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.
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) January 30, 2026
Lemon’s Legal Team: “He Was Reporting. Period.”
Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, made it clear:
Don Lemon was not an activist, not an organizer, and not a participant.
“He was there as a journalist,” Lowell stated, emphasizing that Lemon’s actions are fully protected under the First Amendment.
The defense has vowed to fight the case aggressively, calling the arrest an unconstitutional overreach meant to intimidate reporters covering politically sensitive issues.
So far, prosecutors have not publicly detailed the exact charges, but reports suggest authorities are floating allegations such as conspiracy to deprive civil rights or violations tied to federal laws protecting access to places of worship.
A federal magistrate judge previously refused to approve charges against Lemon, citing insufficient evidence. Despite that, federal authorities pressed forward anyway — ultimately securing an arrest, though court filings remain sealed.
Officials have referenced the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, a law traditionally used in entirely different contexts, fueling criticism that statutes are being stretched to justify targeting a journalist.
