Former CNN anchor Don Lemon is at the centre of a potential federal investigation after he joined a group of protesters who stormed a Sunday church service in St. Paul, Minnesota. The protest was targeting the church due to its connection to a local Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official.
Legal Warnings and Potential Charges
On Monday, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon issued a stark warning to Lemon via social media platform X. She stated that his actions could violate federal law and that he was "on notice." Dhillon challenged Lemon's claim that his disruption of the service was protected by the First Amendment, asserting that "a house of worship is not a public forum for your protest."
Dhillon confirmed her office is in contact with the FBI and is investigating potential criminal violations. The probe is examining whether the protest breached the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which protects religious freedom at places of worship. Prosecutors are also considering charges under the Ku Klux Klan Act, a civil rights statute that prohibits conspiracies to intimidate or prevent people from exercising their rights.
The Protest and Its Target
The incident occurred on Sunday when Lemon accompanied an anti-ICE protest group into the Cities Church in St. Paul. Video footage showed Lemon berating a pastor and defending his presence as an "act of journalism." The protest groups, including the Racial Justice Network and Black Lives Matter Minnesota, targeted the church because one of its pastors, David Easterwood, also serves as the acting director of the St. Paul ICE field office.
Easterwood had previously appeared alongside Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in October, speaking proudly of leading immigration enforcement in the area. Protester Nekima Levy Armstrong explicitly told Lemon they targeted the service because the church was "harboring someone who is commanding ICE agents to terrorize our communities."
Broader Context and Reactions
Easterwood has been a controversial figure due to his dual role. He recently defended ICE agents' actions in a lawsuit filed by local protester Susan Tincher, who alleged aggressive detention. Easterwood called the use of force "necessary."
Dhillon criticised Minnesota officials for "refusing to enforce" laws and vowed federal intervention. "There is zero tolerance for this kind of illegal behaviour & we will not stand for it," she declared. When contacted for comment, Lemon's husband, Timothy Malone, declined to speak on the possibility of criminal charges.
The situation highlights escalating tensions around immigration enforcement and the legal boundaries of protest, particularly at religious institutions. The federal investigation into Lemon's conduct is ongoing.
