Los Angeles, January 30, 2026 – Former CNN anchor and current independent journalist Don Lemon was arrested late Thursday night by federal agents in Los Angeles and released the following day on his own recognizance, without having to post any bond.
The arrest stems from Lemon’s coverage of an anti-ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) protest that disrupted a service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, on January 18, 2026. During the incident, protesters entered the church, where one pastor serves as an ICE official, and interrupted the worship service with chants and demonstrations related to immigration enforcement policies.
A federal grand jury in Minnesota indicted Lemon along with eight others, including another independent journalist, Georgia Fort, and several protest participants. The charges include conspiracy against rights of religious freedom and interfering with the exercise of religious freedom at a place of worship, potentially invoking provisions similar to the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act or related civil rights statutes protecting worship activities.
Lemon, who now hosts content on platforms like YouTube, was in Los Angeles covering the upcoming Grammy Awards when more than two dozen agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the FBI took him into custody in a hotel lobby. His attorney described the arrest as unexpected, with Lemon initially mistaking the agents for something else.
He made his initial appearance in federal court in Los Angeles on Friday afternoon. Prosecutors sought stricter release conditions, but the judge granted release on personal recognizance with minimal restrictions, including no pretrial supervision and permission for domestic and certain international travel (such as an approved trip to France in June). Lemon did not enter a plea during the hearing but indicated he plans to plead not guilty.
Outside the courthouse, Lemon addressed reporters in defiant terms:
“I have spent my entire career covering the news. I will not stop now. I will not stop ever. The First Amendment protects that work for me and for countless other journalists. I stand with all of them, and I will not be silenced. I look forward to my day in court.”
The case has ignited debate over press freedom versus the boundaries of journalism during disruptive events. Supporters of Lemon argue the arrest represents an overreach and an attempt to criminalize newsgathering, particularly in covering protests against federal immigration policies under the current administration. Critics contend that entering a place of worship to film or participate in a disruption crosses into interference with others’ religious rights, rather than protected reporting.
Attorney General Pam Bondi publicly directed the arrests and highlighted them on social media, framing the action as addressing a “coordinated attack” on the church.
Lemon’s next court appearance is expected in Minnesota’s federal court, with proceedings ongoing. The indictment involves a total of nine defendants, and the matter remains a developing story amid broader tensions over immigration enforcement and First Amendment issues.
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