DOJ arrests Don Lemon, Georgia Fort over church protest coverage

On Jan. 29-30, 2026, federal agents arrested four people in connection with a Jan. 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul: former CNN anchor DLDon Lemon (arrested in Los Angeles), independent journalist GFGeorgia Fort (arrested at her Minneapolis home), Trahern Jeen Crews, and Jamael Lydell Lundy. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrests on social media, calling it a 'coordinated attack' on the church.

U.S. Magistrate Judge DMDouglas Micko had rejected DOJ's request to charge Lemon on Jan. 22, finding no probable cause. Micko also crossed out FACE Act charges against protesters Nekima Levy Armstrong and Chauntyll Allen, writing 'NO PROBABLE CAUSE' in the margins of their arrest warrants. After Micko's ruling, the DOJ bypassed him by taking the case to a grand jury.

GFGeorgia Fort is a three-time Emmy-winning journalist, WCCO Radio host, and vice president of the 🦆Minnesota chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists. She was one of only a few reporters permitted inside the Derek Chauvin trial courtroom. FBI agents arrived at her home at 6:30 a.m. while her children were present.

The Jan. 18 protest targeted Pastor DEDavid Easterwood of Cities Church, who also serves as acting field director of the ICE St. Paul field office. Protesters chanted 'ICE out' and demanded justice for Renee Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on Jan. 7. Easterwood was not present during the protest.

Lemon faces charges of conspiracy to deprive rights (18 U.S.C. § 241) and FACE Act violation. His attorney Abbe Lowell called the arrest 'an unprecedented attack on the First Amendment' and said Lemon was present 'to cover the protest as a journalist.' Lemon conducted interviews with demonstrators, congregants, and another pastor.

Assistant Attorney General HDHarmeet Dhillon had publicly signaled potential charges against Lemon, stating that being a journalist 'is not a badge or a shield that protects you from criminal consequences.' A source told CBS News that Bondi was 'enraged' by Magistrate Micko's decision to reject the charges.

The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the arrests, stating: 'The arrest of journalist DLDon Lemon in connection with his reporting on a protest in 🦆Minnesota should alarm all Americans.' Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison called the arrests 'troubling.'

The FACE Act (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act) prohibits using force or physical obstruction to interfere with someone exercising First Amendment rights at a place of worship. Prosecutors claim defendants violated this by disrupting the Jan. 18 church service, though Magistrate Micko found no evidence of force or threat.