Journalist Don Lemon has been released from custody following his arrest and facing federal civil rights charges related to his reporting on an anti-immigration enforcement protest at a Minnesota church. Lemon was taken into custody in Los Angeles, along with another journalist and two protesters in Minnesota. He expressed determination and defiance during a press briefing in California, asserting that he will continue his journalistic work without being silenced.
The arrests have drawn criticism from media advocates and civil rights activists, including Rev. Al Sharpton, who criticized the Trump administration for infringing on the First Amendment. Lemon and others were indicted by a grand jury in Minnesota for alleged conspiracy and impeding worshippers’ First Amendment rights during the protest at Cities Church in St. Paul.
In a Los Angeles court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Robbins sought a $100,000 bond for Lemon, accusing him of participating in storming the church. However, Lemon was released without having to post bail and was granted permission to travel to France in June while awaiting trial. His defense attorney, Marilyn Bednarski, stated Lemon’s intention to plead not guilty and contest the charges in Minnesota.
Following his dismissal from CNN in 2023, Lemon clarified that he was an independent journalist documenting the protest and had no association with the group that entered the church. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi applauded the arrests on social media, emphasizing the right to worship freely under President Trump’s leadership.
A civil rights attorney and two other individuals involved in the protest were arrested before Lemon for disrupting a service at the same church. The U.S. Justice Department initiated a civil rights investigation after protesters interrupted the service, demanding justice for Renee Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis.
Cities Church, where the protest occurred, is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and has a pastor who serves in an ICE field office. The church expressed gratitude for the swift action by the Department of Justice to safeguard its activities amid the disruption.
The Justice Department’s investigation into the church protest contrasts with its decision not to probe Good’s shooting by an ICE officer. The focus has now shifted to the case of Alex Pretti, another individual killed by federal officers. The Justice Department is conducting a federal civil rights investigation into Pretti’s death.
Funding for the Department of Homeland Security has become a contentious issue amid protests nationwide, with Operation Metro Surge sparking demonstrations. President Trump has frequently criticized Lemon on social media and has a history of targeting individuals who oppose him. The Justice Department’s actions have raised concerns about its independence and alignment with Trump’s agenda.
Attorney Abbe Lowell, representing Lemon, denounced the Justice Department’s priorities in light of recent events. Democrats have accused the department of politicization and criticized its handling of investigations under Trump’s administration.
The developments surrounding Lemon’s arrest, the church protest, and the federal investigations underscore the polarized climate surrounding immigration enforcement and civil rights issues in the U.S.