A judge on Friday ordered Don Lemon released without bail. Lemon had been indicted for allegedly interfering with a religious service during an anti-ICE protest in Minnesota.
Judge Patricia Donahue rejected the government’s request to impose a $100,000 bond. She also refused to limit the journalist’s travel to New York and Minnesota only.
Don Lemon, wearing a cream-colored suit, spoke briefly to confirm that he had read and understood the charges against him.
Alexander Robbins, assistant U.S. attorney, argued in favor of restrictions, claiming that Lemon posed a threat to the community.
Robbins stated that Lemon joined a group that entered a church during a religious service and disrupted those present, according to Variety.com.
Lemon’s attorney, Marilyn Bednarski, said her client had no history of violence and posed no flight risk. She asked that he be allowed to vacation in France this summer, but agreed to restrictions on international travel. “He is committed to fighting this,” she said.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass attended. Lemon is due in the Minneapolis court on February 9.
Arrest During Grammy Awards Coverage
The former CNN anchor, now an independent journalist, was taken into custody in Los Angeles by two federal agents on Thursday night. His attorney, Abbe Lowell, stated that Lemon had arrived in the city earlier that day to cover the Grammy Awards scheduled for Sunday.
His arrest came after the Trump administration’s Justice Department sought to charge him with a civil rights violation. These efforts followed his attendance at an anti-ICE protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, on January 18.
Lemon had livestreamed coverage of the protest and has maintained that he was simply present as a journalist to document the events.
Georgia Fort, another independent journalist covering the protest, was also arrested.
Lemon’s former employer, CNN, strongly condemned his arrest.
“The FBI’s arrest of our former colleague Don Lemon raises profoundly concerning questions about press freedom and the First Amendment,” the network said in a statement.
CNN noted that the Justice Department had twice failed to obtain arrest warrants for Lemon and other journalists in Minnesota. A federal district court chief judge found “no evidence” of criminal behavior in their work.
“The First Amendment protects journalists who report news and events as they happen. This ensures they can report freely in the public interest. The DOJ’s attempts to violate those rights are unacceptable,” CNN added.
White House Mocks Arrest
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed Lemon’s arrest, along with three others, in connection with the Minnesota protest.
“At my direction, federal agents arrested Don Lemon, Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Lydell Lundy early this morning. The arrests are in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota,” Bondi wrote on X.
The White House responded to the arrest on X, posting: “When life gives you lemon…”—a play on the journalist’s name—accompanied by a graphic announcing his arrest.
Don Lemon was fired from CNN in 2023 after allegations of inappropriate behavior toward women at the network. He then signed a brief deal with Elon Musk to produce independent content on X. The partnership collapsed within months. Lemon subsequently launched his own program, “The Don Lemon Show.” He is scheduled to appear before a court in Minneapolis on February 9, according to Variery.com
