Did Don Lemon Break the Law? Understanding the FACE Act and What Comes Next
Former CNN Anchor Don Lemon Arrested Amid Federal Charges
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested in Beverly Hills and is expected to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. Friday, California time. This arrest has raised questions regarding potential violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances and Places of Religious Worship (FACE) Act in connection with a protest at a Minnesota church earlier this month.
The Department of Homeland Security announced that Lemon faces charges of conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshipers. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed via social media that Lemon, along with three others, was arrested for a "coordinated attack" on the church.
The nature of the charges remains somewhat unclear, but it appears the federal government may invoke the FACE Act, which prohibits the use or threat of force and intimidation in places of worship. This law, enacted in 1994, was created in response to escalating violence at abortion clinics during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Legal analyst Royal Oakes commented, “If you’re in a church and a service is going on, you have a right to it not being disrupted. If people come in to try to demonstrate and exercise their First Amendment rights and interfere with it, they’re breaking the federal law.”
Lemon, who is currently an independent journalist, was inside Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, when a group of protesters entered to voice their opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following the shooting deaths of Renee Good. Lemon live-streamed the event for his YouTube channel.
The primary issue surrounding Lemon’s arrest is whether he participated in the disruption or was simply acting as a journalist. “Let’s assume that Don Lemon was very sympathetic to the protesters. Let’s assume he was there and expressed his opinion that they’re doing the right thing. Did he actually interfere? We don’t know,” Oakes stated. He noted that cellphone footage from inside the church could be crucial in determining the nature of Lemon’s involvement.
In a statement, Oakes added, “Now, since we live in a surveillance society, and plus, if anything interesting happens, whether it’s 35,000 feet in a jet or in church, people whip out their phones. We’re probably going to get a lot of video and testimonial evidence about exactly what happened, and that’s what they have to drill down on.”
Lemon’s court appearance in downtown Los Angeles will mark a significant moment in the ongoing legal proceedings. This case is part of broader efforts by the Trump administration, which sought charges against eight individuals involved in the Minnesota incident. The Justice Department previously approached two judges to issue an arrest warrant for Lemon, both of whom denied the request. “(The federal government) finally did either get a third judge or a grand jury to say, ‘Yep, you may go around this guy up,” Oakes explained.
