Feds Arrest Don Lemon Over MN Church Protest

Frequently fired former CNN anchor Don Lemon got smacked with federal charges Friday for his role in allegedly storming a Minnesota church with anti-ICE protesters.

Federal agents arrested Lemon early Friday in Los Angeles, catching him off guard in an elevator at the swanky Beverly Hilton hotel after he spent the night gallivanting with rapper Busta Rhymes and touting his “fearless” approach to journalism.

The prominent Trump critic, who came to LA to cover the Grammy Awards Sunday, is awaiting a court appearance scheduled for Friday afternoon.

The flailing journalist is accused of depriving the constitutional rights of parishioners in a Twin Cities church when he joined dozens of protesters who interrupted a Jan. 18 service after hearing that the pastor worked for ICE.

Lemon’s attorney Abbe Lowell contended that he had been engaging in “constitutionally protected work” as a journalist covering the action at Cities Church in St. Paul.

“The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable,” Lowell, who also represented disgraced former first son Hunter Biden, said in a statement.

“Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court.”

A federal grand jury indicted Lemon on the charges of conspiracy to deprive rights and interfering with First Amendment rights, White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair posted on X. He’s charged with a violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, a 1994 federal law that deals with access to health clinics but also covers interference with religious worship.

The White House celebrated Lemon’s arrest on its official X account.

“When life gives you lemons…” the post gloated.

The charges come after an aggressive push by Trump’s Department of Justice to throw the book at Lemon and anti-ICE agitators who mobbed the house of worship.

The controversial church takeover came days after Renee Good was fatally shot by an immigration officer in Minneapolis, but before nurse Alex Pretti suffered the same fate during demonstrations in the city.

Lemon documented the protest for “The Don Lemon Show,” where he interviewed the church’s lead pastor, Jonathan Parnell, who called the protest “shameful.”

“Listen, there’s a Constitution and a First Amendment to freedom of speech and freedom to assemble and protest,” Lemon shot back.

Justice Department officials tried to issue arrest warrants for Lemon after the protest, only to be repeatedly shot down by federal judges.

His eventual arrest Friday coincided with independent journalist Georgia Fort — who also covered the protest — being hauled in by federal agents.

Fort dramatically livestreamed her arrest on Facebook, contending she was being punished for doing her constitutionally protected job.

“It’s hard to understand how we have a Constitution, Constitutional rights, when we can just be arrested for being a member of the press,” she said.

Activists Trahern Jeen Crews and Jamael Lydell Lundy were also arrested “in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church,” Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X.

Seven people — including Lemon and Fort — have now been arrested after the church chaos.

Lemon is expected to appear in court in Los Angeles on Friday afternoon.

If convicted of both charges, he could face more than a decade in prison, according to DOJ sentencing guidelines.