Former CNN host Don Lemon has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from his coverage of a protest last month at a church over federal immigration raids in the US state of Minnesota.
Lemon, 59, was charged with conspiracy to deprive rights and interfering with religious freedoms by allegedly obstructing someone's First Amendment rights by force.
He was arrested after entering the Cities Church in St Paul on January 18, 2026, with protesters who said one of its pastors was an immigration enforcement official.
Lemon livestreamed the protest, which led to charges for eight other individuals. He entered the courtroom surrounded by supporters and maintained his silence upon arrival.
Four co-defendants also pleaded not guilty. Lemon asserted that he acted in his capacity as an independent journalist covering a significant protest event.
I have spent my entire career covering the news. I will not stop now, he stated shortly after his arrest.
During the proceedings, concerns were raised about the seizure of Lemon's mobile phone during his arrest, as lawyers voiced apprehensions regarding the implications of this action on his case.
The group of protesters, including Lemon, were charged with conspiracy against religious freedom at a place of worship, as they interrupted a service chanting against ICE actions and in memory of a woman fatally shot by an ICE officer.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt remarked post-arrest about the government's intolerance towards intimidation faced by religious communities. Lemon's legal situation is poised to reignite debates over press freedom and the rights of journalists.
In previous years, Lemon, a notable critic of the Trump administration, was terminated from CNN, culminating a 17-year career marred by controversy.
