The Justice Department has indicated it may pursue criminal charges against protesters who disrupted a church service in St. Paul on Sunday, involving noteworthy figures including former CNN reporter Don Lemon. Lemon attempted to downplay his involvement, framing it as a “journalistic act.”
Harmeet Dhillon, the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, mentioned that charges could be brought against conservative podcaster Benny Johnson over his actions during the incident, which reportedly terrified families and children in the congregation.
Dhillon clarified that Lemon’s assertions of “conducting journalism” wouldn’t shield him from accountability. During an appearance on “The Benny Show,” he suggested that Lemon could face indictment under the Enforcement Act of 1871, commonly referred to as the Ku Klux Klan Act.
Dhillon stated, “Anytime someone conspires to violate the protected civil rights of American citizens, the Klan Act can be used to bring conspiracy charges.”
Videos posted by Lemon during and after the church takeover positioned him among the protesters, masking his presence with a narrative of documenting events as a journalist.
Prior to the group’s entrance into the church, Lemon filmed what he described as “reconnaissance” with activists, including members of the Minnesota Black Lives Matter group, who were nearby. He vaguely mentioned participating in “Operation Suspension,” suggesting an organized plan without revealing specific details.
Outside the church, he recorded the chaotic scenes as families were forced to leave, remarking somewhat ironically that protests can indeed be unpleasant for those affected.
When the protest erupted, Lemon confronted the church’s senior pastor, Jonathan Parnell, who labeled the demonstrations “disgraceful” and requested the protesters vacate. Instead, Lemon launched into anti-Trump and anti-ICE sentiments.
Additional footage showed Lemon engaging with churchgoers as they attempted to exit, often embroiled in heated discussions. Though some parishioners tried to express their viewpoints, Lemon expressed visible disdain for perspectives that contradicted his own.
Later, after Dhillon warned that charges were looming, Lemon distanced himself from the protesters, claiming to have “nothing to do” with those causing vandalism. Yet, after a conversation with another podcaster, he criticized churchgoers as “entitled” and denounced “white supremacy,” while also complaining about critical media coverage related to his role.
Dhillon confirmed that the Justice Department is examining potential violations of the FACE Act, which aims to protect the free exercise of religion and prohibits interference in places of worship.
President Trump appeared to endorse the idea of Lemon facing legal consequences, sharing a post that drew comparisons to a severe sentence given to a small group of elderly women protesting at an abortion clinic, although it was later clarified that the women faced months, not years, in prison.
Lemon did not respond to numerous inquiries for comment but, in a conversation with NBC News, reiterated feelings of being unjustly targeted, alluding to racism and homophobia as part of the backlash against him.
