Don Lemon Arrested in Los Angeles Over Minnesota Church Protest — Journalism, Protest, or a Dangerous Line Being Redrawn?

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon woke up Friday morning not in a newsroom or a studio — but in federal custody.

Lemon was arrested by federal agents in Los Angeles, where he had been covering the Grammy Awards, in connection with an anti-ICE protest that disrupted a Sunday worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota earlier this month.

According to Attorney General Pamela Bondi, Lemon was one of four individuals taken into custody “in connection with the coordinated attack” on the church.

Yes — attack is the word being used by federal authorities. And that’s exactly why this story has exploded into a national flashpoint.

What Happened at the Church

On January 18, Lemon livestreamed an anti-ICE protest that entered Cities Church during a worship service. Protesters interrupted the service with chants and demands tied to immigration enforcement and recent deaths involving ICE.

Lemon, now an independent journalist after his departure from CNN, documented the protest in real time, following demonstrators into the church and narrating what was happening for his audience.

Federal prosecutors allege the protest violated laws protecting religious worship. Lemon’s legal team says he was doing what journalists do every day: recording events as they unfold, even when they’re uncomfortable.

The Charges — and Why They’re Alarming

While it remains unclear exactly what charges Lemon will ultimately face, prosecutors are reportedly considering using the Enforcement Act of 1871, also known as the Ku Klux Klan Act — a law originally designed to stop racial terrorist groups from intimidating Black Americans during Reconstruction.

Yes, that law.

The Department of Justice is also weighing charges under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which covers interference with religious worship, as well as potential conspiracy statutes. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon has made clear that being a journalist does not automatically grant immunity if authorities believe someone crossed from observer to participant.

That’s the government’s position.

Lemon’s Defense: “This Is Journalism”

Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell — who also represented Hunter Biden — forcefully pushed back.

“Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy Awards,” Lowell said. “The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable. Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court.”

Lowell maintains Lemon’s actions were constitutionally protected newsgathering, not criminal conduct.

And that argument isn’t just legal — it’s personal.

Lemon’s Journalism Roots — and Why This Moment Matters

In the past before this arrest, Don Lemon sat down with Jay Rob on an episode of The Hot Zone, where he spoke candidly about his career, his time at CNN, and why he got into journalism, it's impact, importance and why it matters to him — especially now.

In that interview, Lemon talked about why he got into journalism in the first place: to ask hard questions, tell uncomfortable truths, and give voice to people who feel ignored. He made it clear that losing a cable news anchor chair didn’t mean losing his purpose. He told Jay Rob he plans to keep doing journalism until he doesn’t want to anymore — not until someone tells him to stop.

That context matters now more than ever.

Because the government isn’t just questioning what Lemon did that day — it’s implicitly questioning what journalism is allowed to look like.

Don Lemon Talks With Jay Rob About Why He Got Into Journalism & It's Importance

A Judge Already Pumped the Brakes — Then the Arrest Happened Anyway

Adding another layer to the controversy: a federal magistrate judge had already declined to approve charges against Lemon, ruling prosecutors hadn’t established probable cause. Despite that, federal agents proceeded with arrests days later.

That sequence alone has civil liberties advocates raising eyebrows — and alarms.

Politics, Power, and the Press

Attorney General Bondi has emphasized that the administration will not tolerate disruptions of religious worship, framing the arrests as a defense of civil rights.

Critics see something else entirely: a journalist being criminalized for proximity to protest, at a time when tensions around immigration enforcement, policing, and dissent are already high.

This isn’t about liking Don Lemon. It’s about whether journalists can be arrested for being present when news turns chaotic.Because once that line moves, it doesn’t just affect one former CNN anchor — it affects every reporter with a camera, a phone, or a livestream.

What Comes Next

Lemon is expected to challenge the charges aggressively. Prosecutors have yet to fully outline their case. And the courts will now have to decide whether this was journalism protected by the First Amendment — or conduct the government believes crossed a legal boundary.

Either way, the stakes are massive.

This case could redefine how close is too close for journalists covering protests, and whether documenting controversy is still protected when it makes powerful people uncomfortable.

And if you listened to Don Lemon on The Hot Zone, one thing is clear: He’s not backing away from journalism — and he’s not apologizing for loving it.

Jay Rob Discussing The Arrest Of Don Lemon