A former cable news anchor now faces federal civil rights charges for livestreaming a church protest, transforming what he claims was journalism into what prosecutors call a coordinated assault on religious freedom.
Story Snapshot
- Don Lemon pleaded not guilty February 13, 2026, to conspiracy and FACE Act violations stemming from his coverage of a January 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul
- Federal prosecutors charged nine people total after activists disrupted a church service targeting a pastor identified as an ICE field office director
- A federal magistrate judge initially refused to sign arrest warrants in an “unheard of” procedural move, signaling potential judicial skepticism
- The case pits First Amendment press protections against civil rights laws historically used to protect abortion clinics, now applied to houses of worship
- Approximately 100 supporters rallied outside the courthouse as Attorney General Pam Bondi vowed prosecution of those threatening worship access
When Journalism Meets Federal Prosecution
Lemon’s legal troubles began January 18 when he livestreamed anti-ICE activists disrupting a Sunday service at Cities Church. The former CNN anchor, now working independently, interviewed protesters beforehand and broadcast from inside the sanctuary as demonstrators demanded “ICE out” and confronted congregants. Federal agents arrested him weeks later in Los Angeles during Grammy Awards coverage. He now faces charges typically reserved for abortion clinic blockades, raising questions about whether documenting a protest equals participating in it. His defense team includes prominent attorneys Abbe Lowell and Joe Thompson, a former acting U.S. Attorney for Minnesota.
The ICE Connection That Sparked Everything
Protesters targeted Cities Church after identifying David Easterwood, a senior pastor, as acting director of the St. Paul ICE field office. This connection motivated civil rights activist Nekima Levy Armstrong and others to organize the demonstration during heightened immigration enforcement operations. The Trump administration had deployed thousands of armed immigration agents into Minnesota’s Democratic-governed cities that January, prompting organized resistance from community activists. The protest also demanded “Justice for Renee Good,” though sources don’t clarify this reference. Church representatives through True North Legal countered that the action constituted a “coordinated planned operation” disguised as journalism.
A Prosecution Strategy Raising Eyebrows
The government’s use of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act represents a novel application of a statute created to protect abortion clinic access. Attorney General Pam Bondi justified the charges by declaring worship a “sacred right,” while Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon condemned the protest as intimidation against Christians. Yet a federal magistrate judge’s initial refusal to sign arrest warrants suggests judicial concerns about the legal theory. Chief U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz called the subsequent review request by prosecutors “unheard of” in Minnesota’s federal court system. This procedural irregularity hints at potential overreach by the Justice Department in pursuing high-profile defendants.
First Amendment Battle Lines Drawn
Lemon declared outside the courthouse that the administration believes “the process is the punishment” and vowed he would “not be intimidated.” His co-defendants include a military veteran, a St. Paul school board member, a student activist, and fellow independent journalist Georgia Fort, whose arraignment was scheduled for February 17. Media organizations criticized the arrests over First Amendment concerns, while approximately 100 supporters chanted “protect free speech” outside the federal building. The involvement of former federal prosecutors on the defense side signals broader institutional unease within the legal community about weaponizing civil rights statutes against journalists covering newsworthy protests.
Political Theater or Legitimate Prosecution
Context matters here. Lemon lost his CNN position in 2023 after on-air sexist comments and subsequently built an independent journalism career frequently criticizing Trump on YouTube. The president praised the Justice Department for charging Lemon, calling the church disruption a “horrible thing.” Trump has systematically stripped journalists of credentials and sued news outlets, establishing a pattern of hostility toward critical coverage. Church representatives argue protesters have no right to invade worship spaces under journalism’s banner, claiming defendants are “doubling down” on press immunity. Both sides present legitimate concerns—religious institutions deserve protection from genuine harassment, yet journalists must cover contentious protests without facing federal conspiracy charges.
What Happens Next
The case enters pretrial proceedings with nine defendants maintaining not guilty pleas. If prosecutors prevail, they establish precedent for applying civil rights statutes to journalists covering protests at protected spaces. If defendants win, it reinforces traditional First Amendment protections for press access to newsworthy events, even disruptive ones. The magistrate judge’s initial warrant refusal and involvement of heavyweight defense attorneys suggest this case faces significant legal obstacles. For journalists nationwide, the outcome determines whether documenting controversial protests becomes a prosecutable conspiracy. For religious institutions, it clarifies boundaries between worship protection and public accountability when leadership holds controversial government positions. The trial will ultimately test whether American courts permit federal prosecution of journalism itself.
Sources:
Journalist Don Lemon pleads not guilty in Minnesota ICE protest case – KSL News
Don Lemon, Nekima Levy Armstrong plead not guilty in church protest – Minnesota Star Tribune