Journalist Don Lemon is charged with federal civil rights crimes in anti-ICE church disruption

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Journalist Don Lemon, who dared the Trump administration to come after him after he covered the disruption of a Minnesota church service by activists protesting immigration enforcement, was indicted for civil rights crimes.

Lemon was arrested on Thursday by federal agents in Los Angeles, while another independent journalist and two protest participants were arrested in Minnesota.

The four were charged with conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers during the Jan. 18 disruption at the Cities Church in St. Paul, where a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official is a pastor.

Lemon, who was fired from CNN in 2023 following a bumpy run as a morning host, was due to appear Friday in federal court in Los Angeles. He has said he has no affiliation with the organization that went into the church, and he was there as a journalist chronicling protesters.

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

Attorney General Pam Bondi promoted the arrests on social media.

“Make no mistake. Under President Trump’s leadership and this administration, you have the right to worship freely and safely,” Bondi said in a video posted online. “And if I haven’t been clear already, if you violate that sacred right, we are coming after you.”

Since he left CNN, Lemon has joined the legion of journalists who have gone into business for themselves, posting regularly on YouTube. He hasn’t hidden his disdain for President Donald Trump. During his online show from the church, he said repeatedly, “I’m not here as an activist. I’m here as a journalist.” He described the scene in front of him and interviewed churchgoers and demonstrators.

Fort, an independent journalist, livestreamed the moments before her arrest Friday on Facebook Live, saying “agents are at my door right now” with an arrest warrant and a grand jury indictment.

Crews is a leader of Black Lives Matter Minnesota who has led many protests and actions for racial justice.

Lundy, a candidate for state Senate, works for the office of Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty and is married to a St. Paul City Council member. Lemon briefly interviewed him as they gathered with protesters preparing to drive to the church on Jan. 18.

A judge released Fort, Trahern Crews, and Jamael Lundy on bond, rejecting the Justice Department's attempt to keep them in custody. Not guilty pleas were entered.

Cities Church belongs to the Southern Baptist Convention and lists one of its pastors as David Easterwood, who leads ICE's St. Paul field office.

“We are grateful that the Department of Justice acted swiftly to protect Cities Church so that we can continue to faithfully live out the church’s mission to worship Jesus and make him known,” lead pastor Jonathan Parnell said.