Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested today (Jan. 30) in connection with what U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi called a recent “coordinated attack” at a Minnesota church. Lemon, now an independent journalist, is charged with conspiracy and interfering with worshipers’ First Amendment rights.
Three others, including journalist Georgia Fort, were also arrested. Last week, a judge rejected charges against several individuals, including Lemon, citing insufficient evidence.
“Make no mistake,” Bondi said Friday via video. “Under President Trump’s leadership and this administration, you have the right to worship freely and safety. And if I haven’t been clear already, if you violate that sacred right, we are coming after you.”
RELATED: Cities Church Calls Anti-ICE Protest That Disrupted Worship Service ‘Shameful’ and ‘Unlawful’
Don Lemon Arrested After MN Church Protest
On Jan. 18, anti-ICE protesters interrupted worship at St. Paul’s Cities Church, saying one of its pastors worked for the city’s ICE field office. Lemon also entered the sanctuary and, while livestreaming, questioned lead pastor Jonathan Parnell.
Parnell, telling Lemon the disruption was “shameful,” asked protesters to leave. According to the pastor, his congregants—including young children—were “terrorized” by the incident.
After learning of Lemon’s arrest, Parnell said in a statement, “We are grateful that the Department of Justice [DOJ] acted swiftly to protect Cities Church so that we can continue to faithfully live out the church’s mission to worship Jesus and make him known.”
True North Legal, which represents Cities Church, also expressed gratitude to the Trump administration. “The freedom to worship God without fear of violence and intimidation is a fundamental right that defines who we are as Americans,” it said.
Lemon’s arrest was the top-trending topic on social media Friday morning. “Don Lemon may identify as a journalist but he was obviously part of the attack on Cities Church,” wrote Florida Pastor Tom Ascol. “He should be justly prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
Andrew Kolvet, spokesman for Turning Point USA, posted, “Don Lemon 100% deserved to be arrested. His lawyer and the activist media will refer to him as a former longtime CNN anchor and a ‘veteran journalist.’”
“They will scream this is an assault on ‘freedom of the press.’ They’ll scream fascism!!” said Kolvet. “This is all garbage.”
Calling the church disruption a “raid,” Kolvet alleged that Lemon “coordinated with far-left agitators” and “played a very specific, intentional role that day as hype man for the revolution, and he knew it.” Kolvet concluded, “It was an attack on Christians, it was illegal, and [Lemon] deserves to be face the consequences like everyone else so that churches remain sacred and set apart.”
William Wolfe, executive director of the Center for Baptist Leadership (CBL), said he is thankful the administration is pursuing “justice for the Christian victims of the wicked attack on a Southern Baptist church.” Calling Lemon a “ringleader of the violent thugs who stormed Cities Church,” Wolfe wrote that people can’t use a “press pass as a cover to discriminate against and harass evangelical Christians.”
CBL, Wolfe said, is “praying for a swift conviction and severe sentencing of Don Lemon and all the other perpetrators, and that they would suffer the full weight of the law for their heinous crimes against Christians.” He added, “Don Lemon can repent in jail, and we hope he does.”
Cities Church was cofounded by Pastor Joe Rigney, author of “The Sin of Empathy.” Rigney has rejected the claim that the St. Paul church is political, calling it “a normal congregation of Christian worshipers.”
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested today (Jan. 30) in connection with what U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi called a recent “coordinated attack” at a Minnesota church.Click to Post
