Lemon, a famous progressive, insists he was at the Cities Church in St. Paul as a journalist to cover the Jan. 18 protest but was not a demonstrator.
By Catholics for Catholics
Don Lemon, the former CNN host turned independent journalist, pleaded not guilty to federal civil rights charges Friday, after allegedly interrupting a Minnesota church where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official is a pastor.
Four others also pleaded not guilty in the case.
Lemon, a known progressive critic of conservatives, insists he was at the Cities Church in St. Paul as a journalist to cover the Jan. 18 protest but was not a protestor. The seasoned media person promised to fight what he called “baseless charges” and protect his free speech rights, according to a story by Fox News.
“For more than 30 years, I’ve been a journalist, and the power and protection of the First Amendment has been the underpinning of my work. The First Amendment, the freedom of the press, are the bedrock of our democracy,” Lemon said outside the courthouse after his arraignment. “And like all of you here in Minnesota, the great people of Minnesota, I will not be intimidated, I will not back down.”
Lemon has added an improbable attorney to his legal team as he faces charges over his alleged participation in a January protest by anti-immigration enforcement agitators at a Minnesota church.
Lemon’s addition to his defense is Joe Thompson, who served as the acting U.S. attorney for Minnesota after being appointed by President Donald Trump in May 2025. He resigned from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in January.
Religious liberty was violated today as Anti-ICE protestors interrupted a Christian church in Minneapolis, shouting and shaming parishioners during worship.
— Catholics for Catholics 🇺🇲 (@CforCatholics) January 19, 2026
It's shameful to see Don Lemon and other media calling practicing Christians 'fake' and assuming that Jesus would be… pic.twitter.com/ZMrPlCboFk
Thompson was the lead prosecutor who helped unearth the massive $250 million Feeding Our Future food fraud case tied to the state’s Somali community.
According to Fox News, a notice of appearance was filed on Tuesday, indicating Thompson “shall appear as counsel of record for defendant Don Renaldo Lemon” moving forward. Thompson is expected to work with Lemon’s lead defense attorney, Abbe Lowell, who previously represented Hunter Biden in his tax and gun-charge case.
Dozens of Lemon supporters congregated outside the courthouse, chanting “Pam Bondi has got to go” and “Protect the press.”
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