Don Lemon Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Charges After Arrest

UPDATE — 2/13/26, 3:20 p.m. ET: Former CNN host Don Lemon has pleaded not guilty to federal civil rights charges.

The journalist, 59, appeared in court in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Friday, February 13, to formally refute charges of conspiracy against the rights of religious freedom at a place of worship and injuring, intimidating and interfering with the exercise of the right of religious freedom at a place of worship, per NBC News. Lemon was originally arrested on January 29 while covering a protest at the Southern Baptist church in St. Paul, where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement employee allegedly served as pastor.

Per the Associated Press, Lemon’s attorney Abbe David Lowell told the judge during Friday’s hearing that he plans to raise First Amendment issues in his defense of the TV host.

Lemon has insisted that he was simply covering the protest and not an active participant. Nevertheless, he was arrested and charged with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, a 1994 law that criminalizes interference or intimidation of “any person by force, threat of force or physical obstruction exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship.”

If Lemon is convicted, he could face a $10,000 fine or up to one year behind bars. Lemon was released from custody with a no money bond on January 30.

Four others arrested in the protests also pleaded not guilty on Friday, including prominent civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong.

Us Weekly has reached out to Lemon’s representatives for comment.

Original story:

UPDATE 1/30/26 at 7:14 p.m. ET.

Don Lemon was released from police custody on Friday, January 30, following a brief appearance in court.

His lawyer, Marilyn Bednarski, told reporters via The Hollywood Reporter that Lemon is “committed to fighting this case” after being arrested on Friday amid an anti-ICE protest at a church in Minnesota.

According to the outlet, U.S. District Judge Patricia Donahue granted Lemon a release with no money bond after the government moved to impose a $100,000 bond on the journalist. U.S. Attorney Alexander Robbins fought to restrict Lemon to New York, Minnesota and Washington, D.C., and make him surrender his passport, which was denied.

Lemon has been charged with violating federal laws by “allegedly crossing a line from activity protected by the First Amendment to impeding others’ rights to practice their religious beliefs,” per THR. He has also been charged with conspiracy against rights and violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.

Lemon is barred from contacting any victims, witnesses or other defendants in the case under the conditions of his release. The journalist must receive permission from the court to travel internationally, but the judge OK’d his trip to France in June as it was previously scheduled.

Original story below:

Don Lemon was arrested on Friday, January 30.

Lemon, 59, was taken into federal custody in Los Angeles, according to The New York Times and CBS News, weeks after he traveled to Minnesota to cover an anti-ICE protest held inside a St. Paul church. His lawyer has since addressed the situation.

“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 tells Us Weekly 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. There is no more important time for people like Don to be doing this work.”

Lemon has asserted that he traveled to Minnesota solely to cover the protest but not participate.

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“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’s statement continued. “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.”

While CBS News reported that Lemon will face a grand jury in connection to his arrest, the charges were not immediately revealed.

Lemon has worked as a TV journalist since 2003, joining CNN three years later. After hosting The Eleventh Hour, The Don Lemon Show and CNN Tonight, Lemon was fired from the network in 2023.

“I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN,” he wrote in a social media statement at the time. “I am stunned. After 17 years at CNN, I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly. At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be able to continue to do the work I have loved at the network.”

Lemon, who hosted an episode of CNN This Morning hours earlier, further claimed that it was not his decision to leave the network.

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“It is clear that there are some larger issues at play,” he added. “With that said, I want to thank my colleagues and the many teams I have worked with for an incredible run. They are the most talented journalists in the business, and I wish them all the best.”

CNN, however, shut down Lemon’s claims in a statement of its own.

“Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate,” an X statement read. “He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.”

Lemon has since hosted an eponymous web series via social media.

“It’s tough for me to set boundaries,” he exclusively told Us in June 2025 of his new role. “I have learned now to say ‘no,’ and they’ll ask me why and I’ll just say ‘no’ just because I don’t — I’m not interested. I need to take care of myself, so my boundaries now is learning the word ‘no’ and making sure ‘no’ means what it means. ‘No’ means no.”