ST. PAUL, Minn. — Federal prosecutors moved Thursday to arrest former CNN anchor Don Lemon in what the Justice Department characterizes as a deliberate, coordinated effort to disrupt a religious worship service in St. Paul, Minnesota—an action authorities say crossed the line from journalism into criminal conduct.
Lemon, 59, was taken into custody by federal agents in Los Angeles, where he was attending the Grammy Awards, and is now facing potential federal charges stemming from a January 18 protest inside Cities Church. Three other journalists were arrested in connection with the same incident.
Attorney General Pam Bondi described the incident as a “coordinated attack” on a house of worship, signaling that federal authorities believe the actions were organized, intentional, and designed to interfere with the lawful exercise of religious services.
Government alleges escalation from protest to criminal interference
According to federal authorities, the church service was not merely protested outside but actively disrupted from within, allegedly interfering with congregants’ ability to worship freely. Prosecutors contend this conduct meets the threshold for federal intervention, particularly when actions move beyond speech and into obstruction or intimidation.
While full charging documents have not yet been unsealed, Justice Department officials have indicated the case may involve civil rights violations and the misuse of protected spaces for political confrontation.
The arrests mark a significant escalation in the federal response to protest activity surrounding immigration enforcement in Minnesota, especially where authorities argue that demonstrators targeted private religious services rather than public forums.
Lemon’s defense vs. federal framing
Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, has rejected the government’s narrative, arguing that Lemon was present solely in a journalistic capacity and that the arrest represents an unconstitutional attempt to criminalize press coverage.
Federal prosecutors, however, appear poised to argue that press credentials do not provide immunity when an individual allegedly participates in or facilitates conduct that disrupts protected religious activity.
The distinction—central to the case—will be whether Lemon was merely documenting events or actively involved in a coordinated effort that crossed into criminal interference.
Why Cities Church became a federal flashpoint
The protest centered on allegations that a Cities Church pastor also holds a leadership role within Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a claim that drew demonstrators amid heightened tensions over federal immigration operations in the Twin Cities.
Federal officials have emphasized that the political motivations of protesters do not excuse interference with religious worship, particularly when demonstrators enter sanctuaries during services rather than limiting activity to lawful protest zones.
Several individuals arrested earlier in connection with the same incident were later released after a judge questioned the government’s initial legal filings. Prosecutors have since recalibrated their approach, signaling a more narrowly focused case strategy.
The FACE Act and why prosecutors are invoking it
Central to the government’s case is the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, commonly known as the FACE Act.
While widely associated with abortion clinics, the law also explicitly protects houses of worship. It makes it a federal crime to use force, threats, intimidation, or physical obstruction to interfere with individuals exercising their right to religious worship.
Prosecutors argue that when demonstrators intentionally disrupt a church service—particularly in a coordinated manner—the FACE Act provides clear federal jurisdiction. Critics counter that applying the statute in protest-related cases risks expanding the law beyond its original purpose.
Broader implications
The case against Lemon places a national spotlight on the legal boundary between protest, press activity, and criminal interference. Federal authorities appear intent on drawing a firm line: political expression, they argue, does not include the right to commandeer religious services or shield coordinated disruption behind claims of journalism.
As court proceedings move forward, the case is expected to test not only Lemon’s legal exposure but also how aggressively federal law can be applied to high-profile figures operating at the intersection of media, activism, and protest.
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