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The former CNN anchor #DonLemon was arrested late Thursday night on charges that he violated federal law during a #protest at a church in #StPaul, #Minnesota, his lawyer said, in a case REJECTED last week by a magistrate judge.

Lemon has said he was simply reporting as a #journalist when he entered the Cities Church on Jan 18 to observe a demonstration against the #immigration crackdown in the area.

#law #democracy #FreePress #FirstAmendment #Trump #autocracy
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/us/don-lemon-arrest-minnesota-church-protest.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

https://www.nytimes.com

Federal Agents Arrest Don Lemon Over Minnesota Church Protest

Nonilex

@Nonilex@masto.ai replied · 7 days ago

The protesters interrupted a service at the church, where an #Immigration & Customs Enforcement official serves as a pastor, & chanted “ICE out.” Afterward, the #Trump admin sought to charge 8 people over the episode, including #DonLemon, citing a law that protects people seeking to participate in a service in a house of worship.

#law #democracy #FreePress #FirstAmendment #autocracy

Nonilex

@Nonilex@masto.ai replied · 7 days ago

But the magistrate judge who reviewed the evidence approved charges against only three of the people, rejecting the evidence against #DonLemon & the others as insufficient. The #DOJ then petitioned a federal appeals court to force the judge to issue the additional warrants, only to be DENIED.

#law #democracy #FreePress #FirstAmendment #Trump #autocracy

Nonilex

@Nonilex@masto.ai replied · 7 days ago

… #DonLemon is scheduled to appear in federal court in LA Friday. Now that he has been arrested, he is likely to challenge the case by arguing that he was not protesting, but rather covering the event as a #journalist.

“Once the protest started in the church, we did an act of journalism, which was report on it & talk to the people involved, including the pastor, members of the church & members of the organization,” Lemon said in a video. “That’s it. That’s called #journalism.”

#law #Trump #1A

Obot 50549535

@obot50549535@left-tusk.com replied · 7 days ago

@Nonilex I do not see any article that says what charge Lemon was arrested on, and one article said the charges were sealed. I am at a complete loss what this might mean -- what circumstances could lead to charges being sealed?

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