Don Lemon Arrested By Federal Authorities Over Minnesota Church Protest

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested by federal authorities late Thursday night on charges that he violated federal law when he entered the Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota and shoved a microphone in people’s faces to livestream reactions after activists stormed the church on Jan. 18. 

The protesters, chanting “ICE Out!” – interrupted services because one of its pastors is also an official with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Lemon originally faced charges related to allegedly violating federal laws protecting religious exercise/houses of worship (e.g., the FACE Act or 18 U.S.C. § 241 conspiracy to deprive civil rights) by interfering with the church service.

Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, said his client was taken into custody by federal agents Thursday night in Los Angeles while he was covering the Grammy awards. He is expected to make his first court appearance there. 

NEW: Don Lemon tries lecturing a pastor on the First Amendment after a mob of far leftists stormed a church in Minneapolis.

Pastor: “This is unacceptable. It’s shameful to interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship…”

Lemon: “Listen, there’s a constitution, the First… pic.twitter.com/joHdCvaXe6

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 18, 2026

Lemon insists that while he was tipped off ahead of time about the demonstration, he did not know they would disrupt the service.

“Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done,” said Lowell. “The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable.”

The DOJ originally sought to charge eight people over the incident, including Lemon, citing a law that protects people seeking to participate in a service in a house of worship – however a magistrate judge whose wife reportedly works in AG Keith Ellison’s office only approved charges against three people, rejecting the evidence against Lemon and others as insufficient. 

Shocking footage from Cities Church in Minneapolis this morning (an SBC church) where an anti-ICE mob stormed the service and disrupted their worship, alleging one of the church’s lead pastors is an ICE agent. pic.twitter.com/hS2FhzrFc4

— Center for Baptist Leadership (@BaptistLeaders) January 18, 2026

Despite the denials, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Lemon. Looks like the party is over, for now.