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Journalist Don Lemon pleads not guilty to civil rights charges in Minnesota church protest
Don Lemon and eight others face federal civil rights charges for disrupting a church service, with legal teams citing First Amendment protections for journalistic activity.
- On Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, Don Lemon, former CNN anchor and independent journalist, pleaded not guilty at the Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, St. Paul, after indictment with eight others.
- Organizers say the Jan. 18 service at Cities Church was targeted because they believed a senior pastor there worked with ICE, and protesters interrupted the service chanting `ICE out` and `Justice for Renee Good` while Lemon livestreamed earlier this month.
- According to court filings, the grand jury charged Lemon with conspiracy against religious freedom and injuring worship, prosecutors seized his phone now held by the Department of Homeland Security, and the indictment groups him with co-conspirators without noting his journalist role.
- Supporters and protesters outside the Warren E. Burger Federal Building chanted `Protect the press` as Lemon was released on a no-money bond, despite prosecutors seeking $100,000.
- Lemon's lawyers say the case raises First Amendment questions and plan to press those defenses, while Lemon said, `For more than 30 years, I've been a journalist...`, and magistrate and appeals courts previously rejected DOJ efforts amid recent prosecutor resignations.
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Don Lemon pleads not guilty to federal charges in anti-ICE protest
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon, now an independent journalist, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges in connection to his coverage of an anti-ICE protest that saw demonstrators storm a church in Minnesota last month. On Friday, Lemon appeared in a St. Paul courtroom for his arraignment to enter his plea. The charges include one count of conspiracy against the right of religious freedom at a place of worship and one count of injuring, intimidati…
·New York, United States
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Grandstanding Don Lemon insists he ‘will not be silenced’ after he pleads not guilty to Minnesota church protest charges
Don Lemon arrogantly boasted that he "will not be silenced" and whined about the Trump administration after he pleaded not guilty Friday for his role in storming a Minneapolis church with anti-ICE protesters.
·New York, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources75
Leaning Left17Leaning Right16Center28Last UpdatedBias Distribution46% Center
Bias Distribution
- 46% of the sources are Center
46% Center
L 28%
C 46%
R 26%
Factuality
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