DOJ Charges Don Lemon in Minnesota Church Protest Case
The United States Department of Justice has charged former CNN anchor Don Lemon and eight co-defendants in connection with what prosecutors describe as a "takeover-style attack" on a Minnesota church, according to a newly unsealed federal indictment.
The charges, signed by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, include two counts of criminal conspiracy: conspiracy against the right of religious freedom at a place of worship, and conspiracy to injure, intimidate and interfere with the exercise of religious freedom.
The January 18 Incident
Lemon, now working as an independent journalist, was live-streaming a demonstration at Cities Church in St. Paul on January 18. The protest targeted what demonstrators claimed were federal immigration enforcement activities in Minneapolis that resulted in two deaths earlier that month.
According to the indictment, the church's pastor, Davis Easterwood, has been accused of serving as an ICE official in the state, though this connection remains disputed.
Federal Allegations
The Justice Department alleges that Lemon and his co-defendants conducted what it characterizes as an orchestrated disruption of religious services. The indictment states that "the pastor and congregation were forced to terminate the Church's worship service, congregants fled the Church building out of fear for their safety, other congregants took steps to implement an emergency plan, and young children were left to wonder, as one child put it, if their parents were going to die."
Prosecutors accuse Lemon of maintaining "operational secrecy" by instructing co-conspirators not to disclose the target of their operation. The indictment further alleges that once at the church, Lemon stood in close proximity to the pastor in an intimidating manner while questioning him about the protest's objectives.
Press Freedom Concerns
The charges have sparked significant debate within journalistic circles about press freedom and First Amendment protections. CNN, Lemon's former employer, issued a strong statement defending their former colleague.
"The FBI's arrest of our former CNN colleague Don Lemon raises profoundly concerning questions about press freedom and the First Amendment," the network stated, noting that previous attempts to prosecute Lemon and other journalists in Minnesota had failed when a federal judge found "no evidence" of criminal behavior.
Government Response
Attorney General Bondi characterized the incident as an attack on religious liberty, posting on social media that "Attacks against law enforcement and the intimidation of Christians are being met with the full force of federal law."
The case reflects broader tensions surrounding immigration enforcement policies and their intersection with religious institutions and press coverage in contemporary American politics.
Legal Proceedings
Lemon appeared in federal court in Los Angeles on Friday afternoon and was released on his own recognizance. His next court appearance is scheduled for February 9 in Minneapolis, where the case will proceed.
The outcome of this prosecution will likely have significant implications for the boundaries between journalistic coverage of protests and potential criminal liability for media professionals reporting on controversial political demonstrations.