Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested Thursday night in Los Angeles by federal agents in connection with a January protest that disrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota. The demonstration, organized by anti-ICE activists, has drawn national attention and prompted a sweeping federal response from the Trump administration.
Lemon had been attending a Grammy Awards-related event when authorities took him into custody. According to his attorney, Abbe Lowell, the arrest stems from Lemon’s alleged role in what the Justice Department views as a criminal disruption of worship services, not protected journalism. “Don has been a journalist for 30 years,” Lowell said, insisting that his actions in Minnesota were constitutionally protected. “This is an unprecedented attack on the First Amendment.”
The January 18 protest, promoted by the Racial Justice Network and Black Lives Matter Minnesota, targeted Cities Church in St. Paul due to one of its pastors’ ties to federal immigration enforcement. Protesters stormed the building during Sunday service, prompting accusations of violating the FACE Act — a federal law prohibiting interference with religious worship.
Authorities say Lemon entered the church during the protest and participated in efforts to disrupt the service. Video evidence reportedly shows Lemon inside the building alongside activist Nekima Levy-Armstrong, who described the protest as a “clandestine operation.” Lemon’s legal team argues that his presence was solely in a journalistic capacity.
President Donald Trump denounced the protest and said, “The troublemakers behind this disgrace should be thrown in jail.” The Department of Justice signaled earlier this month that Lemon’s actions were under active investigation. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon promised to “pursue Lemon to the ends of the Earth” and confirmed that the department would rely on the FACE Act for prosecution.
Lemon has accused the Trump administration of attempting to silence him. In a recent interview with former CNN colleague Alisyn Camerota, he said, “If one law doesn’t work, they try another. And they don’t stop until they get their target.”
Three other activists tied to the protest — including William Kelly and Levy-Armstrong — have already been arrested. Kelly was previously known for protesting outside the church attended by War Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington, D.C.
Federal officials are expected to hold a press conference Friday to provide additional details on Lemon’s arrest and possible charges. The case is shaping up to be a high-profile clash between the Biden-era media elite and Trump’s Justice Department, with broader implications for journalism, protest, and federal law enforcement.
The post Don Lemon Arrested in Connection to Church Protest, Faces Federal Charges appeared first on Real News Now.
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