Don Lemon arrested, taken into custody, over invasion of Minnesota church
Don Lemon, the talk show entertainer who failed at his CNN job and was fired, now has been arrested, taken into custody, by federal law enforcement officers over his involvement in an anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protest that invaded a Minnesota church and disrupted its worship service, threatening children there.
His lawyer, Abbe Lowell, confirmed the events that involved Lemon’s arrest by federal agents while Lemon was at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
The lawyer claimed all of Lemon’s protest activities were protected by the Constitution and that he was doing “important” work when he went with violent protesters into Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, and recorded them disrupting the service, intimidating worshipers and actually terrifying children there.
The church has announced that it is considering its own legal action against any and all of the protesters.
“Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done,” Lowell alleged, according to Fox News.
He claimed, “The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable. There is no more important time for people like Don to be doing this work.”
BREAKING:
Don Lemon was arrested by federal agents in Los Angeles last night! pic.twitter.com/75INade6MX
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) January 30, 2026
IT’S OFFICIAL: Former CNN anchor Don Lemon has been ARRESTED by federal agents in Los Angeles in connection with the anti-ICE mob that stormed a church in Minneapolis during a Sunday service.
Terrorizing churchgoers and children is not OK. pic.twitter.com/tSTbX8aD1h
— Gunther Eagleman (@GuntherEagleman) January 30, 2026
He called Lemon’s actions, which could fall under trespassing and other state statutes as well as federal laws against interfering with church services, an “unprecedented attack on the First Amendment.”
Charges had been filed earlier in Minnesota but they were rejected by a judge who since had been documented as having contributed to the leftist political ideologies of the anti-ICE and anti-federal law-enforcement agenda.
A source told the Daily Mail that Lemon was seen being handcuffed while flanked by federal and he “didn’t look overly happy.”
An insider familiar with the investigation also told the paper that prosecutors considered that Lemon would likely enjoy the publicity of his arrest, and said it was “definitely a downside” to bringing charges against him.
‘”He’ll write a book and act like he’s a martyr,” the source said. “But I also think if you don’t do anything you send a message that people can disrupt church services, and I think they have to cut that s*** off and enforce the law.”
Fox described Lemon’s actions at the church where “left-wing agitators” “stormed” into the church.
Lemon, invading the church also, claimed that “the freedom to protest” is what the First Amendment is about.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has confirmed, “Listen loud and clear: WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP.”
On video, Lemon arrived at the church targeted by protesters and said, “I’m just gonna walk in, see what’s happening.”
The report said, however, he “appeared to enter before the agitators, as the pastor could be heard on Lemon’s audio feed before the service was interrupted by shouting. Lemon then told viewers that protesters have entered the church as complete chaos was heard. Lemon’s cameraman then entered the building to livestream the ordeal.”
Lemon also said, on video, “You have to be willing to go into places and disrupt and make people uncomfortable. That’s what this country is about.”
The DOJ has said Lemon’s claims to be a journalist are not necessarily a “shield” from being charged.
“Don Lemon himself has come out and said he knew exactly what was going to happen inside that facility. He went into the facility, and then he began ‘committing journalism,’ as if that’s sort of a shield from being a part, an embedded part of a criminal conspiracy,” Harmeet Dhillon, of the DOJ, said.
WorldNetDaily reported that Patrick J. Schiltz, the Minnesota judge who earlier rejected charges against some protesters including Lemon, “appears in a 2019 list of donors & volunteers for the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, an organization that provides free legal advice and representation for illegal immigrants. Judge Schiltz was appointed by President Bush in 2006.”
NEW: @FoxNews has learned that Patrick J. Schiltz, the Minnesota federal judge who is threatening to hold ICE Director Todd Lyons in contempt of court & is ordering him to appear in court on Friday, appears in a 2019 list of donors & volunteers for the Immigrant Law Center of… pic.twitter.com/yBzst713Pf
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) January 27, 2026
HOLY SMOKES. Minnesota federal Judge Patrick Schiltz is a DONOR and VOLUNTEER for the pro-illegal alien Immigrant Law Center…
…and is the same judge who shielded DON LEMON from accountability after storming the church, AND is threatening to hold ICE Director Todd Lyons in… pic.twitter.com/RPC6PwQ6lw
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 27, 2026