Former CNN Presenter Don Lemon Charged in Connection with Anti-ICE Church Protest
Don Lemon, the former CNN host turned independent journalist, has been charged with federal civil rights crimes following his coverage of an anti-ICE protest inside a Minnesota church. The Department of Homeland Security announced the charges, which include conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers.
Details of the Incident and Arrests
The 59-year-old Lemon was one of four individuals detained in relation to the demonstration, which occurred at Cities Church in St. Paul on 18 January 2026. During a church service, activists protested because they alleged that a pastor associated with the church held a leadership role within Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Lemon livestreamed the event, maintaining that he was acting as a reporter observing the protest.
US attorney general Pam Bondi confirmed the arrests via social media on Friday 30 January 2026, stating that federal agents had taken Lemon and three others into custody in connection with what she described as a "coordinated attack" on the church. She promised more details would follow soon.
Legal and Media Backlash
Lemon's attorney, Abbe Lowell, strongly condemned the arrest, calling it an "unprecedented attack on the First Amendment" and emphasising that Lemon's work was constitutionally protected. Lowell argued that instead of investigating federal agents involved in other incidents, such as the killings of peaceful protesters in Minnesota, the Trump Justice Department was focusing on this case. He vowed that Lemon would fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court.
CNN, Lemon's former employer, also criticised the arrest, issuing a statement that it "raises profoundly concerning questions about press freedom". This development comes amid a broader context of civil rights investigations in the US.
Broader Context and Related Investigations
Simultaneously, US deputy attorney general Todd Blanche confirmed that the Department of Justice has opened a federal investigation into a potential civil rights violation regarding the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse who was shot by border control agents. This incident follows the shooting death of Renee Good in a nearby location, adding to tensions over law enforcement actions.
Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin noted earlier in the week that two agents involved in Pretti's shooting have been placed on administrative leave. These events highlight ongoing debates over civil liberties, press freedom, and government accountability in the United States.
