Don Lemon was arrested on federal charges linked to a protest that disrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota earlier in January 2026.

Quick Scoop: What was Don Lemon arrested for?

The core charges

From current reporting, the federal case against Don Lemon centers on his presence at, and alleged role in, a protest inside Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Authorities say he is facing:

  • Conspiracy to deprive others of their civil rights – prosecutors allege that actions at the protest interfered with the congregants’ right to worship.
  • Violation of the FACE Act – the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act also protects access to houses of worship, and officials claim the church service was unlawfully disrupted.

According to federal officials and multiple news outlets, these charges arise from a mid-January protest directed at immigration enforcement, during which demonstrators entered the church, chanted, and interrupted the service where an ICE-affiliated pastor was preaching.

What Don Lemon and his lawyer say

Don Lemon and his legal team strongly deny that he committed any crime, framing his conduct as ordinary journalistic work.

Key points from their side:

  • His attorney says Lemon was there as a journalist, covering the protest as part of his reporting, not organizing or leading the demonstration.
  • They argue that charging a reporter over newsgathering at a protest is an “unprecedented assault” on press freedom and the First Amendment.
  • Lemon has reportedly said he did not know in advance that protesters intended to disrupt the service and that he was documenting events, interviewing people and observing, as journalists commonly do.

Why this is a big deal right now

The arrest is already being described as a potential major First Amendment showdown, because:

  • Criminal cases directly targeting journalists for conduct clearly tied to reporting are extremely rare in the United States.
  • Lemon is a high‑profile media figure who has frequently criticized President Donald Trump, which is fueling debate about whether this reflects a broader crackdown on dissent and the press.
  • Civil liberties groups, press‑freedom advocates, and political commentators are treating the case as a test of how far the government can go when protests intersect with worship services and other protected spaces.

You’ll likely see more developments soon, including:

  • A detailed federal indictment and court filings laying out the government’s theory of how exactly Lemon’s actions crossed from protected journalism into alleged criminal conduct.
  • Legal challenges arguing that the charges misuse civil‑rights and FACE Act provisions to punish speech and reporting tied to contentious protests.

TL;DR: Don Lemon was arrested over his involvement at a Minnesota church protest and currently faces federal charges of civil‑rights conspiracy and violating the FACE Act, while he maintains he was simply doing his job as a journalist covering the demonstration.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.