Don Lemon calls charges against him 'baseless' attempts to silence him
- - Don Lemon calls charges against him 'baseless' attempts to silence him
Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY February 14, 2026 at 3:52 AM
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Former CNN news anchor Don Lemon pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring to violate constitutional rights during his coverage of an anti-ICE protest in Minnesota last month.
Lemon and independent journalist Georgia Fort were arrested on Jan. 29 by federal agents at a Los Angeles hotel and now face two charges in connection with a Jan. 16 protest in St. Paul, Minnesota. Lemon was later released on his own recognizance, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass confirmed Jan. 29. He faces two criminal charges, including conspiracy to deprive rights and forcibly interfering with someone's religious freedoms and First Amendment rights.
At his assignment hearing on Feb. 13, Lemon said he was practicing his own First Amendment rights as a member of the press at the church protest.
"I wanted to say this isn't just about me, this is about all journalists, especially here in the United States," he said outside the Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in St. Paul. "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, the bedrock of our democracy."
Don Lemon speaks with media gathered after an arraignment hearing at the Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on Feb. 13, 2026, in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The now independent reporter thanked his friends, family collegues and the journalists around the world for their support before calling the charges baseless and accusing the Trump administration of using the legal system as "punishment."
"The events before my arrest and what's happened since, so that people are finally realizing what this administration is all about. The process is the punishment with them and like all of you here in Minnesota, the great people of Minnesota, I will not be intimidated. I will not back down. I will fight these baseless charges, and I will not be silenced," he said.
The White House and the Department of Justice both declined to comment.
Journalist Don Lemon arrives with his legal team for an arraignment hearing at the Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on Feb. 13, 2026, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Lemon has been charged with conspiring to violate someone's constitutional rights and violating the FACE Act. Lemon was one of several journalists covering the Jan. 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul. Demonstrators entered the church during a service, believing that one of the church's pastors, David Easterwood, worked for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Journalist Don Lemon arrives with his legal team for an arraignment hearing at the Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on Feb. 13, 2026, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Lemon has been charged with conspiring to violate someone's constitutional rights and violating the FACE Act. Lemon was one of several journalists covering the Jan. 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul. Demonstrators entered the church during a service, believing that one of the church's pastors, David Easterwood, worked for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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Journalist Don Lemon arrives with his legal team for an arraignment hearing at the Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on Feb. 13, 2026, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Lemon has been charged with conspiring to violate someone's constitutional rights and violating the FACE Act. Lemon was one of several journalists covering the Jan. 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul. Demonstrators entered the church during a service, believing that one of the church's pastors, David Easterwood, worked for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
">Journalist Don Lemon arrives with his legal team for an arraignment hearing at the Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on Feb. 13, 2026, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Lemon has been charged with conspiring to violate someone's constitutional rights and violating the FACE Act. Lemon was one of several journalists covering the Jan. 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul. Demonstrators entered the church during a service, believing that one of the church's pastors, David Easterwood, worked for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/uCHxTgec0TLFHdD8.yQAeQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD03OTU-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/1867328bb58f833936601a493141f4da class=caas-img data-headline="See former CNN journalist Don Lemon appear in federal court" data-caption="
Lemon arrives at court on Feb. 13.
">Lemon arrives at court on Feb. 13.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/uCHxTgec0TLFHdD8.yQAeQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD03OTU-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/1867328bb58f833936601a493141f4da class=caas-img>Lemon arrives at court on Feb. 13.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/vCR.aIBqvHJgTqVO9nsqHA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/df62e038cf942cc7d70e95cb0c72a877 class=caas-img data-headline="See former CNN journalist Don Lemon appear in federal court" data-caption="
Lemon arrives at court on Feb. 13.
">Lemon arrives at court on Feb. 13.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/vCR.aIBqvHJgTqVO9nsqHA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/df62e038cf942cc7d70e95cb0c72a877 class=caas-img>Lemon arrives at court on Feb. 13.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/RUDTyEYTvI1XnVp4BDHLhQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MTU-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/c4b10918e15025c82e88443676420e7f class=caas-img data-headline="See former CNN journalist Don Lemon appear in federal court" data-caption="
Lemon arrives at court on Feb. 13.
">Lemon arrives at court on Feb. 13.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/RUDTyEYTvI1XnVp4BDHLhQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MTU-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/c4b10918e15025c82e88443676420e7f class=caas-img>Attorney Joe Thompson arrives at court on Feb. 13.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/dIPSTGvhPn.3UKSVMvkxwA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MjY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/501d0a403ec5ec9d3b78be08765d4225 class=caas-img data-headline="See former CNN journalist Don Lemon appear in federal court" data-caption="
Attorney Joe Thompson arrives at court on Feb. 13.
">Attorney Joe Thompson arrives at court on Feb. 13.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/dIPSTGvhPn.3UKSVMvkxwA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MjY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/501d0a403ec5ec9d3b78be08765d4225 class=caas-img>
1 / 5See former CNN journalist Don Lemon appear in federal court
Journalist Don Lemon arrives with his legal team for an arraignment hearing at the Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on Feb. 13, 2026, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Lemon has been charged with conspiring to violate someone's constitutional rights and violating the FACE Act. Lemon was one of several journalists covering the Jan. 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul. Demonstrators entered the church during a service, believing that one of the church's pastors, David Easterwood, worked for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
What is Don Lemon charged with?
Lemon, 59, faces two criminal charges, including conspiring to deprive someone of their religious rights and violating the FACE Act.
The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act of 1994 prohibits anyone from "intentionally injuring, intimidating or interfering with" someone seeking or providing services at a place of worship. The law specifies that the act can not be used to "prohibit any expressive conduct – including peaceful picketing or other peaceful demonstration" protected by the First Amendment.
Lemon was one of several journalists covering the Jan. 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where a group of demonstrators entered the church and accused one of its pastors, David Easterwood, of working at the ICE St. Paul Field Office.
Videos of the protesters chanting "ICE out " and lead pastor Jonathan Parnell condemning the group, shouting: "Shame on you. This is the house of God and we are worshipping." Lemon hosted a seven-hour livestream on his YouTube channel, during which he spoke with congregation members, protesters and a church pastor.
Why did CNN fire Don Lemon?
CNN did not provide an explanation at the time of Lemon's 2023 firing after 17 years at the network. Then-CEO Chris Licht announced that the anchor and the network had decided to part ways.
However, his exit came amid allegations of misogyny that were levied weeks prior, as he was accused of making offensive comments about women. Lemon allegedly had made off-color remarks about former colleagues Nancy Grace and Soledad O'Brien on air and in meetings, Variety reported. Lemon's rep told USA TODAY at the time that the Variety report was filled with "patently false anecdotes" and "15-year-old anonymous gossip."
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman and Melina Khan, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Don Lemon pleads not guilty after arrest, Minnesota protest coverage
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