Former CNN host Don Lemon charged in anti-ICE protest at Minnesota church

January 31, 2026

Former CNN journalist Don Lemon was arrested by federal agents and charged with conspiracy to deprive rights and violating the FACE Act after entering a Minnesota church with protesters on January 18 who disrupted a religious service. The protesters were demonstrating against immigration enforcement policies and specifically targeted the church because a pastor there was allegedly an immigration official. Lemon, who livestreamed the incident and insisted he was there only as a journalist covering the story, appeared before a judge and was released without entering a plea.

Who is affected

Don Lemon (former CNN host, now independent journalist)
Georgia Fort (local independent journalist, also arrested)
Trahem Jeen Crews and Jamael Lydell Lundy (activists, also arrested)
Cities Church congregation and pastors in St. Paul, Minnesota
Fort's children (present during her arrest)
Press freedom advocates and First Amendment supporters
Major news organizations like CNN concerned about press freedom

What action is being taken

The Department of Justice is prosecuting Lemon and three others on federal charges
Lemon's lawyer Abbe Lowell is defending him and preparing to fight the charges in court
Protests are continuing in Minnesota related to immigration enforcement operations
CNN is following Lemon's case closely

Why it matters

This case represents a significant clash between press freedom and law enforcement under the Trump administration, raising critical questions about journalists' First Amendment rights when covering protests and disruptions. The use of the FACE Act—typically employed for abortion clinic protests—against a journalist claims to be documenting events rather than participating in them sets a concerning precedent for media coverage of civil demonstrations. The incident is particularly significant as it's the second high-profile case this month of the Trump administration targeting journalists, alarming free speech advocates about potential government intimidation of the press during a period of heightened immigration enforcement and civil unrest.

What's next

Lemon will fight the charges in court
The Department of Justice has stated it will "pursue this to the ends of the Earth"
CNN and other organizations will continue monitoring the case for its implications on press freedom
Protests related to immigration enforcement are continuing in Minnesota

Read full article from source: BBC