Don Lemon arrested by federal agents following involvement in Minn. Cities Church protest – One America News Network

OAN Staff Katherine Mosack and Brooke Mallory
11:48 AM – Friday, January 30, 2026

Left-wing independent journalist and former CNN anchor Don Lemon was reportedly arrested by federal agents in Los Angeles, California, following his involvement in a disruptive church service protest in St. Paul, Minnesota, according to his lawyer.

“Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents last night in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy awards. Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done,” Lemon’s attorney Abbe Lowell said in a statement.

Lowell has represented clients such as former first son Hunter Biden, Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, among others.

While federal officials were initially vague regarding the specific charges against Lemon, they confirmed Friday that the journalist faces two counts: conspiracy against rights and violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.

The charges stem from Lemon’s presence at a January 18^th anti-ICE protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, which investigators have since labeled a “coordinated attack” on a house of worship. Although Lemon maintains he was acting strictly in a “journalistic capacity,” prosecutors maintain he was an “embedded part” of a criminal conspiracy to forcibly interfere with the congregation’s right to religious worship.

Investigators from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have arrested several key figures involved in the Cities Church demonstration, including anti-ICE activists Nekima Levy Armstrong, Chauntyll Louisa Allen, and William Kelly. They are charged under Title 18, U.S.C., Section 241, known as “Conspiracy Against Rights,” which prohibits two or more people from conspiring to intimidate or threaten individuals exercising their constitutional rights — specifically, the right to religious worship.

Parallel to these arrests, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon announced that the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division had put Lemon “on notice” for his involvement.

While Lemon contends he was present only to report on the event, Dhillon argued that “journalism is not a shield” for those who become an embedded part of a criminal conspiracy.

The tension peaked on Friday morning when federal agents arrested Lemon in Los Angeles on charges related to the FACE Act. This follows a viral video showing Lemon shouting at and attempting to debate a pastor inside the church during the service — an incident that prompted President Donald Trump to publicly disparage the journalist.

“I saw him the way he walked in that church, it was terrible,” Trump said. “I have such respect for that pastor. He was so calm, he was so nice. He was just accosted. What they did in that church was horrible.”

 

Lemon, who appeared to have prior knowledge of the church-storming “plan” and later livestreamed it for views and clicks, has reiterated that he was not participating in the demonstration, but rather, covering it as a journalist. Nonetheless, Lemon was present before the protest began and had even indicated to viewers that something was about to unfold.

“The First amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable,” Lowell argued in his statement.

“Instead of investigating the federal agents who killed two peaceful protesters, the Trump Justice Department is devoting its time, attention and resources to this arrest, and that is the real indictment of wrongdoing in this case,” Lowell added. “Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court.”