Former CNN anchor Don Lemon may soon find himself under federal scrutiny after participating in a protest that disrupted a church service in Minnesota. The incident has drawn significant attention and could potentially lead to legal consequences for Lemon.
Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, issued a stern warning to Lemon on Monday, stating that his involvement in the protest could result in serious repercussions. Dhillon emphasized that Lemon, now working as an independent journalist, should consider himself “on notice” for his actions.
The controversy erupted over the weekend when Lemon joined an anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protest that specifically targeted a church service in St. Paul. Video footage captured Lemon engaging with a pastor, asserting that he had a “First Amendment right” to participate in the church disruption.
Dhillon responded via social media platform X, clarifying that Lemon’s defense was flawed. She pointed out, “A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest! It is a space protected from such acts by federal criminal and civil laws!” She further criticized Lemon’s actions as “pseudo journalism” and reiterated that he was being put “on notice.”
In additional posts, Dhillon mentioned her communication with Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI. She assured that she would be closely monitoring Lemon’s conduct in Minnesota, indicating that further investigation could be forthcoming.
In another social media post, Dhillon said she was in touch with Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI, and said she would be ‘all over’ Lemon’s actions in Minnesota.
‘We are investigating potential criminal violations of federal law,’ the prosecutor added.
Reached by phone on Monday, Lemon’s husband Timothy Malone declined to comment and said he had ‘nothing to say’ on the possibility the former CNN anchor could face criminal charges.
Don Lemon is seen smirking on the same day he joined anti-Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) protesters who stormed a Minnesota church
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon says her office is looking into opening an investigation into former CNN anchor Don Lemon for joining a mob of anti-ICE protesters who swarmed a Sunday church service in Minnesota
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon joined an anti-ICE protest at a church in St Paul, Minnesota on Sunday, where pastor Jonathan Parnell (center) shared his disgust with the mob and said they were ‘shameful’
Dhillon took to X to warn Lemon his justification for joining the church protest was misguided, as she posted: ‘A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest’
Dhillon said her department is investigating whether Lemon and the anti-ICE mob violated the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.
The legislation prohibits attempting to injure, intimidate or interfere with any person exercising their First Amendment right to religious freedom at a place of worship.
In an interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson, Dhillon said her office was also exploring charging Lemon under the Ku Klux Klan Act, which makes it illegal to threaten, hurt, or intimidate people to prevent them from exercising their civil rights.
‘The Klan Act is one of the most important federal civil rights statutes. Its a law that makes it illegal to terrorize and violate the civil rights of citizens. Whenever people conspire this, the Klan Act can be used,’ Dhillon said.
‘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 seen with his husband Tim Malone. Reached by phone on Monday, Lemon’s husband declined to comment and said he had ‘nothing to say’ on the possibility the former CNN anchor could face criminal charges
The prosecutor slammed Minnesota officials for ‘refusing to enforce’ their laws, and vowed that the Department of Justice would step in if they did not act.
‘There is zero tolerance for this kind of illegal behavior & we will not stand for it,’ she said.
In footage Lemon shared from his visit to the church, he said he had ‘no affiliations’ with the protest group, and he defended his actions as an ‘act of journalism.’
‘I’m sure people here don’t like it, but protests are not comfortable,’ Lemon said.
It comes as it was revealed that the anti-ICE mob that Lemon joined chose to target the church because one of its pastors, David Easterwood, also serves as the acting director of the St Paul ICE field office.
Easterwood, a pastor at the Cities Church in St. Paul, appeared alongside Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in October, where he spoke of being ‘proud’ of leading the immigration crackdown in the town.
David Easterwood, a pastor at Cities Church in St. Paul (center left) and ICE field office director, seen alongside Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at a press conference in October. On Sunday, his church was targeted by anti-ICE protests joined by Lemon
Easterwood seen embracing Noem at a press conference in October
At the protest while speaking with Lemon, protester Nekima Levy Armstrong singled Easterwood out as the reason they chose to overwhelm the Sunday service.
‘This will not stand, they cannot pretend to be a house of God, while harboring someone who is commanding ICE agents to terrorize our communities,’ Armstrong told Lemon.
Last week, Easterwood captured headlines with his response to a lawsuit brought by local Minneapolis protester Susan Tincher (pictured), who says she was aggressively detained during a protest. Easterwood said the use of force on her was ‘necessary’
The ICE field office director’s role as pastor at the Cities Church reportedly caught the attention of protest groups Racial Justice Network, Black Lives Matter Minnesota, and Black Lives Matter Twin Cities, who organized the Sunday mob.
Easterwood has made headlines with his work with ICE in recent months, and after appearing alongside Noem at the October press conference, he responded to a lawsuit brought by local Minneapolis protester Susan Tincher.
Tincher alleged that she was detained for asking an ICE agent to identify herself, which she says led several agents to pull her to the ground and handcuff her face-down in the snow.
In her lawsuit, Tincher said she was then shackled in a cell for over five hours, and alleged that officers cut off her bra and her wedding ring of 32 years while she was detained.
Easterwood responded by blaming Tincher, saying she tried to enter a law enforcement perimeter, refused commands to leave and tried to push an ICE officer, and he defended the use of force on her as ‘necessary.’
He said officers ‘only use force that is necessary and reasonable based on the totality of the circumstances’, and are often subjected to ‘increased threats, violence, aggression, attacks, vehicle block-ins, and obstruction of immigration enforcement operations.’
