Don Lemon arrested after filming protest at Minnesota church

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon has been arrested by federal agents after he entered a Minnesota church and recorded protesters who disrupted a service, his lawyer has said.

The case has raised questions about press freedom and protest enforcement amid heightened tensions over the immigration policies of US President Donald Trump.

What led to Don Lemon's arrest?

Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents in Los Angeles, where he had been covering the Grammy Awards, according to his attorney Abbe Lowell.

He was released from custody later on Friday after appearing before a judge. He pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him, and no pretrial supervision was ordered.

The arrest stemmed from a January 18 protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where demonstrators interrupted a religious service.

Lemon was charged with conspiracy and interfering with the worshippers' First Amendment rights.

The arrest came after a magistrate judge last week rejected prosecutors' initial request to bring charges against Lemon.

Trump administration officials have condemned the church disruption, accusing protesters of intimidating Christian worshippers during the service.

Attorney General Pam Bondi promoted the arrest on social media, saying: “Make no mistake. Under President Trump's leadership and this administration, you have the right to worship freely and safely. And if I haven't been clear already, if you violate that sacred right, we are coming after you."

What was happening at the church in Minnesota?

The protest took place at the Cities Church in St. Paul on January 18, where a local official with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement serves as a pastor.

Prosecutors have accused participants in the demonstration of civil rights violations linked to the disruption of worship.

Two other people involved in the protest, including a prominent civil rights attorney, have been arrested in recent days.

What has Lemon said about his role?

Lemon has said he had no affiliation with the organization that entered the church. He has said he was present as a journalist documenting events and was unaware that protesters planned to disrupt the service.

Lemon's attorney Abbe Lowell has said his client was engaged in constitutionally protected journalistic activity.

"Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done," Lowell said in a statement. "The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable."

"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," Lowell said.

Lemon is an American journalist best known as a CNN anchor from 2006 until his firing in April 2023 after controversial comments and internal disputes. Since leaving CNN, he has worked as an independent media personality with his own streaming and digital content.

Edited by: Roshni Majumdar