On Friday, February 13th, former CNN anchor Don Lemon will appear in federal court in Minnesota to respond to a criminal case. The case stems from a protest on January 18th when a group of protesters stormed a city church in St. Paul, Minnesota, disrupting a church service and harassing worshippers to protest President Trump’s immigration policies. These individuals accused a senior pastor of the church of supporting immigration and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Lemon, as an independent journalist, accompanied the protesters into the church and live-streamed the protest. Video footage shows him engaging in a debate with a church member on government immigration enforcement issues.
The Department of Justice has charged Lemon with conspiring to deprive others of their civil rights and violating a law that prohibits protesters from entering religious premises to conduct demonstrations. On January 30th, a federal grand jury filed a lawsuit against Lemon, accusing him of disrupting the rights of others.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated in a social media video on January 30th that federal prosecutors will hold accountable those who threaten the “sacred rights” of religious activities for freedom and security.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” on February 1st, pointed out that Lemon was not merely reporting as an independent journalist on the scene but was involved in the “plot” of the Minnesota church case. He told CNN host Dana Bash, “See what Lemon actually did, things you didn’t mention on the show and things a journalist like you would never do. Honestly, you would never do that.”
President Trump supports the Department of Justice’s lawsuit against Lemon, calling the disruption of church worship “a terrible thing.”
Lemon worked at CNN for 17 years and was one of the network’s most prominent anchors, frequently criticizing Trump. In 2023, he was fired from CNN for making discriminatory remarks on the show, for which he later apologized.
Lemon is scheduled to appear in court at the Saint Paul Federal Court on Friday afternoon at 1 PM GMT to officially state his position on the charges. In general, a defendant’s plea in court could be guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
Lemon’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, stated that Lemon’s arrest was “an unprecedented attack on the First Amendment.” Lemon was at the protest as a journalist and had prior knowledge but was unaware that the demonstrators would disrupt the religious ceremony.
Another independent journalist, Georgia Fort, was arrested and charged with the same offenses. Fort denies any wrongdoing, stating that she was only reporting on the protest and did not participate. She is scheduled to appear in court on February 17th for questioning.