Journalist Don Lemon to be arraigned in Minnesota church protest case

Lemon and four others face federal charges for disrupting a service where an ICE official was a pastor

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Former CNN host turned independent journalist Don Lemon is set to be arraigned in federal court in Minnesota on Friday along with four other defendants who were indicted for their alleged roles in disrupting a service at a church where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official was a pastor. Civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong, who was the subject of an altered White House photo, is also scheduled to be arraigned.

Why it matters

The case highlights tensions between the Trump administration's immigration enforcement crackdown and the right to free speech and religious freedom. Lemon's arrest while covering the protest as a journalist raises concerns about press freedoms, while the altered White House photo adds to the ongoing debate around the spread of misinformation and AI-generated imagery.

The details

Protesters interrupted the service at Cities Church on January 18 by chanting 'ICE out' and 'Justice for Renee Good,' referring to a 37-year-old mother fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. Lemon has said he was there as a journalist to cover the event for his livestream show, and was not affiliated with the protest group. The 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act prohibits interference or intimidation of people exercising their First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of worship, with penalties up to a year in prison and a $10,000 fine.

  • Lemon and four others are scheduled to be arraigned in federal court in Minnesota on Friday, February 13, 2026.
  • Two more defendants, including journalist Georgia Fort, are to be arraigned next week.

The players

Don Lemon

Former CNN host turned independent journalist who is one of the defendants charged in the case.

Nekima Levy Armstrong

Civil rights attorney who is also one of the defendants scheduled to be arraigned, and the subject of an altered White House photo.

Joe Thompson

Lemon's attorney who did not return calls seeking comment this week.

Marilyn Bednarsk

Another attorney who previously said Lemon planned to plead not guilty to the federal civil rights charges.

Renee Good

37-year-old mother of three who was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis last month, sparking protests.

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What they’re saying

“I have spent my entire career covering the news. I will not stop now. In fact, there is no more important time than right now, this very moment for a free and independent media that shines a light on the truth and holds those in power accountable.”

— Don Lemon (Reporters)

“President Trump will not tolerate the intimidation and harassment of Christians in their sacred places of worship.”

— Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary (Social media post)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Friday whether to allow Lemon and the other defendants out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, the right to free speech and religious freedom, and the role of the press in covering controversial events. The altered White House photo also raises concerns about the spread of misinformation and the use of AI-generated imagery.