US EditionJournalist Don Lemon pleads not guilty to civil rights charges in Minnesota church protest
Don Lemon and eight others face federal civil rights charges under the FACE Act for allegedly disrupting worship during an anti-ICE protest at Cities Church, prosecutors said.
- On Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, Don Lemon, former CNN anchor and independent journalist, pleaded not guilty at the Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, St. Paul, after indictment with eight others.
- Organizers say the Jan. 18 service at Cities Church was targeted because they believed a senior pastor there worked with ICE, and protesters interrupted the service chanting `ICE out` and `Justice for Renee Good` while Lemon livestreamed earlier this month.
- According to court filings, the grand jury charged Lemon with conspiracy against religious freedom and injuring worship, prosecutors seized his phone now held by the Department of Homeland Security, and the indictment groups him with co-conspirators without noting his journalist role.
- Supporters and protesters outside the Warren E. Burger Federal Building chanted `Protect the press` as Lemon was released on a no-money bond, despite prosecutors seeking $100,000.
- Lemon's lawyers say the case raises First Amendment questions and plan to press those defenses, while Lemon said, `For more than 30 years, I've been a journalist...`, and magistrate and appeals courts previously rejected DOJ efforts amid recent prosecutor resignations.
139 Articles
139 Articles
‘I Thought This Was America’: Don Lemon Pleads Not Guilty Following MN Church Indictment, Demands Grand Jury Transparency
The legal battle surrounding Don Lemon‘s indictment reached a critical turning point on Friday, as the former CNN journalist officially entered a plea of not guilty. During the arraignment in St. Paul, Minnesota, Lemon and his legal team took a defiant stand against his indictment, arguing that the federal charges are a political attempt to criminalize independent journalism. The case stems from a January 18 anti-ICE protest at Cities Church, an…
Don Lemon Pleads Not Guilty In Church Charges Case Tied To Minnesota Protest
Former CNN host Don Lemon has formally pleaded not guilty to charges in federal court as the legal fallout continues from the now-viral storming of a Minnesota church tied to anti-ICE protests — a case that is quickly escalating beyond a simple trespassing dispute into a broader legal battle over religious freedom, activism, and press protections. Lemon was arraigned Friday in connection to the incident at St. Paul’s Cities Church, where agitato…
Don Lemon pleads not guilty to charges stemming from Minnesota church storming
Share This Story(Just the News) — Former CNN host Don Lemon pleaded not guilty Friday to charges stemming from a protest that disrupted a Minnesota church service over the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in the state. Lemon was arrested late last month and charged with conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshipers during the Jan. 18 protest at the Cities Church in St. Paul. The former news anchor has argue…
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