At a Glance
- Don Lemon faces legal threats after filming Jan. 18 Minneapolis church protest
- Trump’s DOJ warns Lemon he’s “on notice” using Civil War-era laws
- Lemon fires back: “I was covering the story, not leading it”
- Why it matters: First Amendment clash over journalism vs. protest coverage
The Trump administration’s Department of Justice has put journalist Don Lemon “on notice” after he filmed a protest inside Cities Church in Minneapolis on January 18.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon threatened Lemon with prosecution under federal laws designed to protect religious worship and civil rights, setting up a potential legal battle over press freedom and protest coverage.
The Protest That Sparked Outrage
Demonstrators interrupted Sunday service at Cities Church to protest David Easterwood, a pastor who also works as a local Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. Lemon, 59, captured the confrontation on video while reporting on the demonstration.
“This is what the First Amendment is about, the freedom to protest,” Lemon told viewers during his coverage. “I’m sure people here don’t like it, but protests are not comfortable.”
The footage went viral across social media platforms, with critics accusing Lemon of helping organize or instigate the protest rather than simply documenting it.
DOJ’s Legal Threats
Dhillon, 57, responded forcefully on X, writing: “A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest! It is a space protected from exactly such acts by federal criminal and civil laws!”
She continued: “Nor does the First Amendment protect your pseudo-journalism of disrupting a prayer service. You are on notice!”
The Assistant Attorney General appeared on The Benny Johnson Show on January 19, where she outlined potential charges using two federal statutes:
The FACE Act – Protects against attacks or intimidation against people “lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship”
The Ku Klux Klan Act – Also known as the Enforcement Act of 1871, makes it a crime to deny any group constitutional rights and gives the president broad enforcement authority
“The Klan Act is one of the most important federal civil rights statutes,” Dhillon explained. “It’s a law that makes it illegal to terrorize and violate the civil rights of citizens.”
She warned: “Everyone in the protest community needs to know that the fullest force of the federal government is going to come down and prevent this from happening and put people away for a long time.”
Lemon’s Defense
Lemon fired back at the accusations in a statement to Fox News Digital, pointing out the selective outrage over his presence at the protest.
“It’s notable that I’ve been cast as the face of a protest I was covering as a journalist – especially since I wasn’t the only reporter there,” he said. “That framing is telling.”
The journalist highlighted the disturbing response from Trump supporters online, noting: “What’s even more telling is the barrage of violent threats, along with homophobic and racist slurs, directed at me online by MAGA supporters and amplified by parts of the right-wing press.”
Lemon redirected attention to the original reason for the protest – the death of Renee Nicole Good, whose case had prompted demonstrators to gather at the church.
“If this much time and energy is going to be spent manufacturing outrage, it would be far better used investigating the tragic death of Renee Nicole Good – the very issue that brought people into the streets in the first place,” he stated. “I stand by my reporting.”
Celebrity Backlash
Rapper Nicki Minaj joined the criticism of Lemon, posting an all-caps reaction on X that included homophobic slurs and calls for imprisonment.
“DON ‘C— SUCKIN’ LEMON IS DISGUSTING. HOW DARE YOU? I WANT THAT THUG IN JAIL!!!!! HE WOULD NEVER DO THAT TO ANY OTHER RELIGION. LOCK HIM UP!!!!!” Minaj wrote, accompanied by a photo of a Chucky doll.
Lemon, who is openly gay and married his longtime partner Tim Malone in 2024, dismissed Minaj’s comments in a statement to TMZ.
“I’m not surprised Nicki Minaj does not understand journalism and is weighing in on matters that are above her capacity,” he responded. “However, the more appropriate image for her post is a ‘Pick Me’ Doll.”
Legal Implications
The case raises questions about the limits of press freedom when covering protests in sensitive locations like houses of worship. Legal experts will likely debate whether simply filming and reporting on a protest constitutes participation or incitement.
The Trump administration’s aggressive stance suggests a willingness to use century-old civil rights laws in new ways, potentially setting precedents for how journalists can cover demonstrations in religious spaces.
Key Takeaways:
- Don Lemon faces federal investigation after filming church protest
- DOJ threatens charges under FACE Act and Ku Klux Klan Act
- Journalist maintains he was covering, not participating in, the demonstration
- Case highlights tensions between press freedom and religious protection laws
