Los Angeles, California – Don Lemon, a former CNN anchor, went to federal court in Los Angeles on Friday after being jailed overnight for a demonstration that stopped a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota. The arrest came after a federal grand jury charged him in connection with a protest at Cities Church on January 18. Protesters went inside during worship when they found out that one of the pastors was an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer.
Lemon was released on his own recognizance at his court appearance and did not have to pay bail. He did not enter a plea, and the judge stated he wouldn’t have to go to probation or pretrial services. Lemon was ordered to avoid contact with alleged victims, witnesses, and known co-defendants. Traveling outside of the country will need court approval, except for a trip to France that was already planned for June. His next court hearing is in federal court in Minneapolis on February 9.
Read also: California health officials crack down on Anthem Blue Cross over grievance process breakdown
The indictment says that Lemon and eight other people conspired against religious freedom and hurt, scared, and stopped people from freely practicing their religion at a place of worship. Federal officials said that the protest was planned ahead of time and that some of the people who took part shared instructions while hiding the location of the goal. Court documents allege that Lemon broadcast parts of the gathering before the protest and called it a “resistance” event, urging participants not to reveal details.
Prosecutors say that once the group of people got inside the church, they obstructed the central aisle and sitting near the front, refused to leave when asked, and acted in a threatening way toward churchgoers and clergy. The indictment also says that Lemon blocked exits and got in the way of those trying to leave the church.
Lemon said outside the courthouse that the arrest was meant to stop him from doing his job as a journalist and violated his rights under the Constitution. Abbe Lowell, Lemon’s lawyer, said that Lemon was in Los Angeles to cover the Grammy Awards and that what he did in Minnesota was just normal news gathering. Lowell said that the Justice Department should have been focusing on other federal issues in Minnesota instead of going after Lemon.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that federal investigators arrested Lemon and a few other co-defendants in connection with what she called a planned attack on the church. Several other people named in the case were arrested before and released before their trial.
Read also: Association of California Water Agencies launches renewed national leadership search
CNN, Lemon’s former employer, said the case raises serious questions about freedom of the press. Attorneys have said that the prosecution might set a bad example by punishing journalists who cover protests. Julius Nam, a former federal prosecutor, said that the case might have big effects on media who cover protests or work with groups they are covering.
Lemon, who departed CNN in 2023, now has his own program online. The case is expected to continue drawing national attention as it moves forward in federal court.