Former CNN host Don Lemon has brought an unexpected lawyer on board as he deals with charges related to a protest involving anti-immigrant enforcement activists at a church in Minnesota back in January.
Joe Thompson, who served as the acting attorney for Minnesota after being appointed by President Trump in May 2025, resigned from the U.S. attorney’s office earlier this year. He was notably the lead prosecutor in a significant $250 million food fraud case associated with the Somali community in Minnesota.
On Tuesday, a notice was filed indicating that Thompson will represent Lemon as “Counsel of Record.” He will collaborate with Lemon’s primary attorney, Abby Lowell, known for previously defending Hunter Biden in a tax-related case.
A recent report from NBC News mentioned that Thompson and other prosecutors left their positions, allegedly due to concerns over the Justice Department’s handling of an investigation related to a fatal shooting of Renee Good. However, an official from the Justice Department noted that these prosecutors had submitted early retirement papers months prior to the incident, and they were continuing their duties until their retirement date.
The New York Times, on the other hand, indicated that Thompson resigned specifically due to issues with the Department of Justice regarding its immigration policies.
As for the charges, Lemon faces accusations of conspiracy to infringe on religious freedoms and violating the FACE Act by live-streaming an incident where left-wing protesters confronted a church in St. Paul after the pastor reportedly collaborated with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Thompson has a history of involvement in high-profile cases, including a federal indictment related to a shooting that resulted in the deaths of Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as injuries to Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman and his wife.
The FACE Act criminalizes the use of force or threats to intimidate individuals seeking reproductive health services or exercising their First Amendment rights in places of worship. It also prohibits intentional damage to those facilities.
Lemon has previously expressed his commitment to his reporting, noting the intense online backlash he has received as a result of his coverage. He stated, “It was notable that I was cast as the face of the protests I was covering, especially since I wasn’t the only reporter there. The framing is telling. Even more telling is the barrage of violent threats directed at me online by MAGA supporters and amplified by some right-wing news outlets.” He concluded by emphasizing the need to focus on investigating the tragic circumstances that led people to protest, saying, “I stand by my reporting.”
