Don Lemon Released After Arrest but Continues to Face Federal Civil Rights Charges from Anti-ICE Church Protest Coverage
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Former CNN anchor Don Lemon has been released after his arrest in connection with an anti-ICE protest in Minnesota on January 18. He faces charges including conspiracy against the rights of religious freedom at a place of worship and interfering with the exercise of that right.
On January 30, Lemon, 59, appeared in the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Los Angeles, greeting his husband Tim Malone with a kiss. The two left the courthouse hand-in-hand, amidst supporters who expressed their backing. “We got your back, Don. We’re proud of you, Don,” one supporter shouted.
The arrest was tied to a protest held in a St. Paul church, where demonstrators interrupted a religious service while chanting against immigration enforcement. Federal prosecutors have accused Lemon of violating federal laws protecting the rights of individuals in worship settings; however, Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, maintains that he was present as a journalist covering the event.
Lowell noted that Lemon was apprehended while he was in Los Angeles to cover the Grammy Awards. The FBI and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed the arrest, citing a federal warrant issued in another jurisdiction.
According to court documents, Lemon is charged with conspiracy against religious freedom rights at a place of worship. He has been released on a personal recognizance bond, allowing him to travel freely under certain conditions. His next court date is set for February 9 in Minneapolis.
During the court proceedings, Lemon’s attorney, Marilyn Bednarski, stated that he intends to plead not guilty and is dedicated to contesting the charges. This legal action follows a previous government attempt to charge him related to the protest, which had initially targeted eight individuals. However, Judge Patrick Schiltz limited the charges to three, finding the evidence against Lemon and others insufficient at that time.
Lemon, along with fellow journalist Georgia Fort and Black Lives Matter leader Trahern Jeen Crews, was later indicted. The indictment claimed that Lemon and Fort livestreamed the protest, which prosecutors described as a “takeover-style attack” that caused distress to church attendees.
Following his release, Lemon reaffirmed his commitment to journalism. “I have spent my entire career covering the news. I will not stop now,” he asserted. He added that the First Amendment protects journalists like him, stating, “I look forward to my day in court.”
A week before his arrest, Lemon had anticipated potential legal action despite the court’s earlier refusal to entertain the government’s request to detain him. He remarked, “I think they’re probably going to try again and again” in efforts to impose shame akin to actions taken against figures like James Comey.
As the situation unfolds, its implications for press freedom and legal precedents regarding journalists’ rights remain significant.
