Los Angeles, California — Former CNN anchor Don Lemon said Friday that his brief detention by federal authorities will not deter his work as an independent journalist, declaring that he intends to continue reporting despite criminal charges tied to a protest at a Minnesota church.
Lemon was released a day after his arrest following a court appearance in federal court in downtown Los Angeles. U.S. District Judge Patricia Donahue ordered his release on a personal recognizance bond, meaning no money was required. Prosecutors accused Lemon of disturbing worshippers at a St. Paul church during a protest, alleging he interfered with their First Amendment right to practice their faith.
Speaking outside the courthouse, Lemon defended his actions and framed the case as an attack on press freedom. “I will not stop now. I will not stop ever,” he said, adding that a free and independent media is especially critical at this moment. Lemon said the Department of Justice arrested him for “covering the news,” something he has done for three decades.
Federal prosecutors, however, painted a different picture. U.S. Attorney Alexander Robbins accused Lemon of joining a group that “terrorized people in a place of worship.” As a condition of his release, Lemon is barred from contacting witnesses or defendants in the case and must seek court permission to leave the country.
The charges stem from a protest at a St. Paul church where demonstrators believed the pastor had ties to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Attorney General Pam Bondi described the incident as a coordinated attack, though officials have not publicly produced an unsealed indictment.
Lemon, now host of an independent show on YouTube and Substack, received public support from several Democratic figures following his release.
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