Former CNN host Don Lemon entered a Minnesota church to cover anti-ICE protesters, then federal agents pulled him into the fallout

Independent journalist and former CNN host Don Lemon was arrested by federal agents and charged in connection with an anti-immigration enforcement protest he filmed inside a Minnesota church in January. The incident came to light through reporting by BBC News, which detailed Lemon’s detention while he was in Los Angeles covering the Grammy Awards on Thursday night.

Lemon appeared before a judge and was released from custody without entering a plea. After his release, he told reporters he was arrested for doing his job and said he would continue reporting, emphasizing the importance of a free and independent press during a public moment of scrutiny.

Federal authorities later confirmed that Lemon faces charges tied to his role at the protest. The allegations have sparked a broader debate about press freedom and the limits of newsgathering during demonstrations inside private spaces.

The charges hinge on a church protest filmed in January

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Lemon was charged with conspiracy to deprive rights and violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances and Places of Religious Worship Act. The law is most often associated with protests outside abortion clinics, but it also prohibits obstruction or disruption of access to houses of worship, as lawmakers have recently criticized DOJ enforcement decisions in related cases.

Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, said his client would contest the charges in court, characterizing them as an unprecedented First Amendment issue. Lowell argued that the case represents an attempt to penalize journalistic coverage rather than unlawful conduct.

The charges stem from events on January 18, when Lemon entered Cities Church in St Paul, Minnesota, while accompanying a group of protesters. The group alleged that one of the church’s pastors was secretly working as an immigration enforcement official, and Lemon livestreamed the encounter on YouTube as it unfolded, amid heightened federal activity in Minneapolis.

Video from inside the Southern Baptist Convention church showed protesters and congregants shouting at one another during the service. Activists chanted “Justice for Renee Good,” referring to a Minneapolis mother who was fatally shot earlier in the month during a confrontation with an officer from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Throughout the broadcast, Lemon repeatedly stated that he was present as a reporter and not participating in the protest. The church’s pastor objected to the disruption, calling it unacceptable and criticizing the interruption of worship services.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi accused Lemon and three others arrested in the case of taking part in what she described as a coordinated attack on the church. Kash Patel confirmed that the FBI worked alongside the Department of Homeland Security during the arrests, and all individuals taken into custody were later released following court appearances.

Political reaction followed quickly, including criticism from Karen Bass, who described Lemon’s detention as alarming. The White House also posted an image referencing the arrest on its official social media account, drawing further attention to the case.

While prosecutors initially sought charges against eight people involved in the incident, a magistrate judge approved charges against only three and excluded Lemon. The government appealed that decision, bringing the case before a federal grand jury, which ultimately led to the charges Lemon now faces.