Don Lemon to Appear in Court on Federal Charges
Former CNN host Don Lemon is set to appear in federal court Friday afternoon to address criminal charges connected to protests at a Minnesota church that occurred earlier this month.
Lemon is facing an arraignment in Los Angeles, where he will be charged with conspiracy to infringe upon someone’s constitutional rights, along with violating the FACE Act, as confirmed by a spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security.
The FACE Act, enacted in 1994, forbids the use of force, intimidation, or obstruction to interfere with an individual’s right to practice their religion in a worship setting. Penalties for violations can range widely, from fines to imprisonment, though it’s still uncertain what exact penalties the prosecutors will pursue in Lemon’s case, as the Justice Department hasn’t provided an immediate comment.
Lemon’s attorney, Abby Lowell, described the lawsuit as an “unprecedented attack” on the First Amendment, suggesting it could undermine free speech protections. She noted that Lemon intends to “vigorously and thoroughly” contest the charges in court.
His arrest followed a demonstration in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was among a group of anti-ICE protesters disrupting a church service, which reportedly was attended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Footage from the event shows demonstrators chanting “ICE LEAVE” as the service was interrupted.
On the same day, three other individuals, including independent journalist Georgia Fort, faced indictments linked to the same protests. Fort claimed she was present at the church in a reporting role.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the arrests, stating on social media that federal agents had detained Lemon along with three others due to their involvement in the protests. “At my direction, early this morning, federal agents arrested Don Lemon, Traherne Gene Cruz, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Rydell Lundy,” Bondi posted.
Lemon, identifying himself as an independent journalist, indicated he was merely documenting the protests, insisting that he wasn’t participating as a demonstrator. He has claimed that his actions were consistent with his long career in journalism.
Lowell reiterated that Lemon’s attendance at the demonstration was purely to cover the event as a journalist, stating, “Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than anything he’s ever done.”
The past year has seen Lowell defending clients who allege they were targeted by the Trump administration, including figures like New York Attorney General Letitia James.
A federal judge previously dismissed the Justice Department’s initial attempt to file criminal charges against Lemon concerning the January 18 protests, deeming the case “frivolous,” prompting an appeal by the Justice Department.
Lemon’s arrest seems particularly timely, reflecting the growing tensions surrounding immigration protests in Minnesota, intensified by the recent tragic shootings of Renee Good and Alex Preti.
This incident has raised alarms over First Amendment protections, prompting comments from several officials, including Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and St. Paul Mayor Kaori Ha. “Today’s arrest of a journalist covering the protests is deeply appalling,” Ha remarked, emphasizing the need to safeguard constitutional rights.
President Trump has indicated a desire to “de-escalate” the situation in Minnesota, but specific details regarding that plan remain unclear.
This is an evolving story, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.
