Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was released from custody in Los Angeles following his arrest for disrupting a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota on Jan. 18.
The Department of Justice arrested Lemon and three other Black journalists – Georgia Fort, Trahern Jeen Crews and Jamael Lydell Lundy on federal charges.
Fox News reports, Lemon was escorted into the courtroom without shackles. He wore the same tan jacket and trousers that he wore to a pre-Grammys party on Thursday.
His husband and Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was there to show support.
A federal indictment unsealed in court on Friday shows Lemon is charged with 2 felonies for conspiring to violate religious freedom rights.
Attorney Abbe Lowell confirmed Lemon was arrested while in Los Angeles to cover the Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1.
The Department of Justice accused Lemon of conspiring with others “to injure, oppress, threaten, and intimidate multiple persons, including the clergy, staff, and congregants of the Cities Church” in St. Paul.
Lemon, 59, stormed into the Cities Church with other anti-ICE protesters, harassing worshipers and making children cry.
The protesters allegedly believed one of the church’s pastors was an ICE agent.
Shocking footage from Cities Church in Minneapolis this morning (an SBC church) where an anti-ICE mob stormed the service and disrupted their worship, alleging one of the church’s lead pastors is an ICE agent. pic.twitter.com/hS2FhzrFc4
— Center for Baptist Leadership (@BaptistLeaders) January 18, 2026
In a post on X (Twitter) on Friday morning, Attorney General Pam Bondi said she ordered Lemon’s arrest “in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.”
Jemele Hill, Jasmine Crockett, Bernice King and others expressed outrage on X, saying “The first amendment is under attack.”
Every media organization needs to put out this kind of statement. https://t.co/cNvZnNWkxa
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) January 30, 2026
We are in a dangerous place as a nation when members of the press are taken into custody for exercising their First Amendment right to a free press, while federal agents kill with impunity.
The arrests of journalists Don Lemon, Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Lydell… pic.twitter.com/hKgyuduqgK
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 30, 2026
Locking up journalists is what dictators do. Free Don Lemon and Georgia Fort. #donlemon #journalists #geogiafort pic.twitter.com/Hm848BjNTT
— Jasmine Crockett (@JasmineForUS) January 30, 2026
Lemon could face up to a year in federal prison if convicted.
“Instead of investigating the federal agents who killed two peaceful Minnesota 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,” attorney Lowell said in a statement. “This unprecedented attack on the First Amendment and transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration will not stand.”
“Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court,” the attorney added.
Sources say the DOJ’s case against Lemon is already falling apart.
MS NOW reported that various DOJ prosecutors in both Minnesota and Los Angeles have refused to be involved in indicting Lemon.
