Don Lemon Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Charges
Former CNN anchor turned independent journalist Don Lemon pleaded not guilty to federal civil rights charges on Friday, 13 February 2026, after being arrested at an anti-ICE protest in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Lemon arrived at the US courthouse with his legal team for an arraignment hearing, accompanied by his attorney Joe Thompson, but did not comment to reporters as he entered the building.
Background of the Protest and Arrests
The charges stem from a protest at the Cities church on 18 January, where demonstrators interrupted a service by chanting "ICE out" and "Justice for Renee Good", referring to a 37-year-old mother of three fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis last month. Lemon has maintained that he was at the church solely as a journalist to chronicle the event for his livestream show, not as a participant in the protest.
In total, nine people have been charged in the case, including Lemon and prominent local activist Nekima Levy Armstrong. Four others pleaded not guilty alongside Lemon, with two more defendants, including independent journalist Georgia Fort, scheduled for arraignment next week.
Legal and First Amendment Issues
Lemon's attorney, Abbe David Lowell, informed the judge that first amendment issues will be raised in the defense, arguing that Lemon was exercising his rights as a journalist. Lowell also requested the return of Lemon's phone, which was seized during his arrest in Los Angeles. Prosecutors stated the phone is in Department of Homeland Security custody, with a search warrant under seal, and cannot be returned until the search process is completed.
The charges are filed under the 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, which prohibits interference with religious freedom at places of worship. Penalties can include up to a year in prison and fines of up to $10,000.
Political and Social Reactions
The protest has sparked controversy, with conservative leaders, including White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, condemning the disruption of religious services. Leavitt warned in a social media post that "President Trump will not tolerate the intimidation and harassment of Christians in their sacred places of worship." Even some clergy who oppose the administration's immigration tactics expressed discomfort with the protest methods.
Outside the courthouse, roughly two dozen protesters gathered, chanting slogans such as "Pam Bondi has got to go" and "Protect the press", highlighting tensions over press freedom and immigration enforcement.
Context of AI-Altered Imagery and Broader Issues
The case is part of a broader context involving AI-altered imagery, including a doctored photo of Nekima Levy Armstrong that falsely showed her crying during her arrest, circulated on official White House social media. This imagery has proliferated since the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officers in Minneapolis amid the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
Joe Thompson, one of Lemon's attorneys, is among several former prosecutors who recently left the US attorney's office in Minnesota, citing frustration with the administration's immigration enforcement and the justice department's response to the killings. Thompson had led investigations into major public program fraud cases, which the administration has used to justify its crackdown, often targeting Minnesota's Somali community.
Lemon emphasized his commitment to journalism after his arrest, stating, "I have spent my entire career covering the news. I will not stop now. In fact, there is no more important time than right now, this very moment for a free and independent media that shines a light on the truth and holds those in power accountable."
