Ex-CNN host Don Lemon arrested for Minnesota church invasion
Disgraced ex-CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested late Thursday, weeks after he joined anti-ICE protesters as they interrupted a Sunday service while storming a Minneapolis church, according to his attorney.
“Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents last night in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy awards,” Lemon’s attorney Abbe Lowell told The Post in a statement. Lowell used to represent Hunter Biden. He also represented Tish James during the mortgage scandal.
Lemon, 59, was part of a group of dozens of protesters who disrupted Sunday worship at Cities Church.
Don Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. FOX News
It was not immediately clear what charhes he is facing. However, Lemon has been accused of violating the Enforcement Act of 1871, which bans interference with certain civil rights — such as voting or serving on juries — or, in this case, the right to practice one’s religion.
Also known as the Ku Klux Klan Act, it originally created to prevent the racial terrorist group from paramilitary vigilantism.
Lemon livestreamed the incident for his independent media platform, moving in and out of the church while filming demonstrators and clergy.
Initially, Lemon tried to get out of facing criminal conspiracy charges by claiming he was “committing journalism” while taking part in the church disruption, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon told conservative podcaster Benny Johnson on Tuesday.
Don Lemon spoke to protesters who stormed a church in Minneapolis earlier this month. Don Lemon / YouTube
“Whenever anyone conspires to violate the protected civil rights of American citizens, the Klan Act can be used to bring a conspiracy charge,” she said.
But video posted by Lemon himself before, during and after the church takeover showed he was very much part of the group, under the guise of “chronicling” the event as a reporter.
Don Lemon livestreamed an anti-ICE protest that disrupted a Sunday worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minn., on Jan. 18.
Before the group barged into the house of worship, Lemon filmed a segment admitting he had done some “reconnaissance” with the activists, which included members of Minnesota Black Lives Matter, who were milling about in a parking lot a few feet away.
“They’re planning an operation we’re going to follow them on. I can’t tell you exactly what they’re doing, but it’s called Operation Pull-Up,” he said.
“So that’s what we’re doing here, and after we do this operation, you’ll see it live, these operations are surprise operations. Again, I can’t tell you where they’re going,” he said.
