Federal Agents Arrest Don Lemon Over Minnesota Church Protest
Source: NYT
The former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested late Thursday night on charges that he violated federal law during a protest at a church in St. Paul, Minn., multiple people familiar with the matter said, in a case rejected last week by a magistrate judge.
Mr. Lemon has said he was simply reporting as a journalist when he entered the Cities Church on Jan. 18 to observe a demonstration against the immigration crackdown in the area.
The protesters interrupted a service at the church, where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official serves as a pastor, and chanted ICE out. Afterward, the Trump administration sought to charge eight people over the episode, including Mr. Lemon, citing a law that protects people seeking to participate in a service in a house of worship.
But the magistrate judge who reviewed the evidence approved charges against only three of the people, rejecting the evidence against Mr. Lemon and the others as insufficient. The Justice Department then petitioned a federal appeals court to force the judge to issue the additional warrants, only to be denied.
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/us/don-lemon-arrest-minnesota-church-protest.html
Statement from Don Lemonâs attorney:
— MeidasTouch (@meidastouch.com) 2026-01-30T13:20:48.919Z
sinkingfeeling
(57,442 posts)Last edited Fri Jan 30, 2026, 09:32 AM - Edit history (1)
NHvet
(291 posts)The fourth estate has been a bedrock of country. What we won't protect, will surely perish
. "Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press".
MLWR
(861 posts)choie
(6,771 posts)if judges denied their request for warrants, including a federal appeal judge? WHAT THE FUCK?
Ray Bruns
(6,067 posts)Hes brown and he doesnt like Trump.
groundloop
(13,619 posts)travelingthrulife
(4,726 posts)Clearly harassment since all of the others were released as well.
demmiblue
(39,395 posts)Minneapolis local independent journalist Georgia Fort was also reportedly arrested by the Feds:
— Leah McElrath (@leahmcelrath.bsky.social) 2026-01-30T13:38:11.194Z
hamsterjill
(17,141 posts)Because thats what they should do. They wont; but they should.
Full disclosure: Im a Christian.
littlemissmartypants
(32,422 posts)https://democraticunderground.com/100220620528
We are currently under assault by Christian Nationalism. Christian Nationalists take everything by force. They are laser focused. This is the goal of the regime.
Here's an expert take on the topic:
The Violent Take it By Force by Matthew D. Taylor with The Freedom From Religion Foundation. Interview ~ 30"
hamsterjill
(17,141 posts)I'm not one to force anyone else to believe as I do. I don't have a need for control like the evangelicals all seem to have. To me, when someone tries to force religion on someone else - ANY religion - the very first reaction is to resist. Why wouldn't it be?
In my thinking, we are each on our own path and must each find our own way. That's the journey; that's life. Each person's idea of what their path should be is something that should be encouraged and respected as long as it doesn't diminish or harm someone else.
Ferrets are Cool
(22,575 posts)MaineBlueBear
(439 posts)The malfeasance is overwhelming and congressional Republicants are too weak to stop it.
Figarosmom
(10,186 posts)Just like all the other cases trump tried to force.
Lemon was reporting. Covered in tbe 1st Amendment snd atesst the courts still abide by that.
chouchou
(2,895 posts)Justice matters.
(9,537 posts)And where are the Epstein files (tm)?
chouchou
(2,895 posts)... the files have been placed on Voyager 17 which is probably on it's way to Saturn..
heckles65
(631 posts)he/she isn't doing their job.
twodogsbarking
(17,799 posts)bluestarone
(21,538 posts)the FBI! With lawsuit very possible!
SunSeeker
(57,800 posts)Hassin Bin Sober
(27,414 posts)The courts, grand juries, and regular juries need to boycott any help for ICE/FBI
Refuse to issue any warrants while they completely ignore the law in every other proceeding
LetMyPeopleVote
(176,217 posts)twodogsbarking
(17,799 posts)mdbl
(8,205 posts)arrest the reporters.
