UPDATE 1/30/26 at 7:14 p.m. ET.
Don Lemon was launched from police custody on Friday, January 30, following a short look in court docket.
His lawyer, Marilyn Bednarski, instructed reporters through The Hollywood Reporter that Lemon is “committed to fighting this case” after being arrested on Friday amid an anti-ICE protest at a church in Minnesota.
According to the outlet, U.S. District Judge Patricia Donahue granted Lemon a launch with no cash bond after the federal government moved to impose a $100,000 bond on the journalist. U.S. Attorney Alexander Robbins fought to limit Lemon to New York, Minnesota and Washington, D.C., and make him give up his passport, which was denied.
Lemon has been charged with violating federal legal guidelines by “allegedly crossing a line from activity protected by the First Amendment to impeding others’ rights to practice their religious beliefs,” per THR. He has additionally been charged with conspiracy towards rights and violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.
Lemon is barred from contacting any victims, witnesses or different defendants within the case beneath the circumstances of his launch. The journalist should obtain permission from the court docket to journey internationally, however the decide OK’d his journey to France in June because it was beforehand scheduled.
Original story beneath:
Don Lemon was arrested on Friday, January 30.
Lemon, 59, was taken into federal custody in Los Angeles, in response to The New York Times and CBS News, weeks after he traveled to Minnesota to cowl an anti-ICE protest held inside a St. Paul church. His lawyer has since addressed the scenario.
“Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done,” Lemon’s lawyer Abbe Lowell tells Us Weekly in an announcement. “The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable. There is no more important time for people like Don to be doing this work.”
Lemon has asserted that he traveled to Minnesota solely to cowl the protest however not take part.
“Instead of investigating the federal agents who killed two peaceful Minnesota protesters, the Trump Justice Department is devoting its time, attention and resources to this arrest, and that is the real indictment of wrongdoing in this case,” Lowell’s assertion continued. “This unprecedented attack on the First Amendment and transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration will not stand. Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court.”
While CBS News reported that Lemon will face a grand jury in connection to his arrest, the fees weren’t instantly revealed.
Lemon has labored as a TV journalist since 2003, becoming a member of NCS three years later. After internet hosting The Eleventh Hour, The Don Lemon Show and NCS Tonight, Lemon was fired from the network in 2023.
“I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by NCS,” he wrote in a social media assertion at the time. “I am stunned. After 17 years at NCS, I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly. At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be able to continue to do the work I have loved at the network.”
Lemon, who hosted an episode of NCS This Morning hours earlier, additional claimed that it was not his choice to depart the community.
When the information anchor turns into the information. From drunken antics on New Year’s Eve to backlash for sexist remarks, Don Lemon made waves throughout his time at NCS. After making a reputation for himself via his reporting at a number of Fox and NBC associates via the years, Lemon joined NCS in 2006 and have become a outstanding […]
“It is clear that there are some larger issues at play,” he added. “With that said, I want to thank my colleagues and the many teams I have worked with for an incredible run. They are the most talented journalists in the business, and I wish them all the best.”
NCS, nonetheless, shut down Lemon’s claims in an announcement of its personal.
“Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate,” an X assertion learn. “He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.”
Lemon has since hosted an eponymous internet collection through social media.
“It’s tough for me to set boundaries,” he exclusively told Us in June 2025 of his new position. “I have learned now to say ‘no,’ and they’ll ask me why and I’ll just say ‘no’ just because I don’t — I’m not interested. I need to take care of myself, so my boundaries now is learning the word ‘no’ and making sure ‘no’ means what it means. ‘No’ means no.”