Ex-CNN Host Don Lemon Arrested After Minnesota Church Protest Coverage

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon has been arrested by federal agents in connection with his reporting on an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, his lawyer said on Friday.

Lemon was taken into custody Thursday night in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy Awards, on federal charges tied to a demonstration at Cities Church on January 18.

The protest, organised by opponents of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), interrupted a service and targeted a pastor with ties to immigration enforcement.

His attorney, Abbe Lowell, defended Lemon’s presence at the scene, saying he was acting as a journalist and documenting the event.

“Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court,” Lowell said, accusing authorities of a “transparent attempt” to target press freedoms.

Lemon, who was dismissed from CNN in 2023 and now works independently, says he entered the church to record and report on the protest. He has maintained that his actions were protected under the First Amendment.

The Justice Department alleged Lemon may have violated laws protecting access to places of worship, though it is unclear what specific charges he faces.

Earlier efforts to bring charges were blocked by a federal magistrate judge, prompting prosecutors to pursue alternate legal avenues.

The arrest has drawn significant attention and debate over journalistic freedom and federal enforcement priorities amid ongoing tensions over immigration policy in Minnesota.