Don Lemon Hires Prosecutor Who Resigned Over Minnesota Probes

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Don Lemon, the former CNN anchor facing federal civil rights charges, has hired Joseph Thompson, a top federal prosecutor who recently resigned from the U.S. Attorney's office in Minnesota amid controversy over the office's handling of investigations. Thompson will now represent Lemon as he defends against charges stemming from his coverage of a protest at a St. Paul church.

Why it matters

Lemon's hiring of Thompson, who helped lead the office's probe into social services fraud, is notable given the recent turmoil in the Minnesota U.S. Attorney's office. Thompson's resignation, along with several colleagues, came amid reports the Justice Department was reluctant to investigate a federal agent involved in a fatal shooting and was seeking to investigate the agent's partner.

The details

According to the court filing, Thompson informed the judge on Tuesday that he will represent Lemon ahead of his next court appearance on Friday. Lemon is facing federal civil rights charges related to his coverage of a Jan. 18 demonstration in which protesters interrupted a St. Paul church service to oppose a pastor who reportedly serves as a federal immigration officer. Lemon maintains he was acting as a journalist and denies any wrongdoing.

• On January 18, protesters interrupted a St. Paul church service that Lemon was covering.
• Last month, Thompson resigned from his position as the No. 2 official in the U.S. Attorney's office in Minnesota.
• Lemon's next court appearance is scheduled for this Friday.

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Friday whether to allow Lemon to continue to be represented by Thompson, given Thompson's recent resignation from the U.S. Attorney's office.