DOJ Vows To Pursue Don Lemon Charges ‘To The Ends Of The Earth’
The Department of Justice is pledging to aggressively pursue criminal charges against former CNN host Don Lemon over his alleged involvement in an anti-ICE protest that disrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said Friday.
Speaking with Megyn Kelly, Dhillon said the DOJ will go “to the ends of the Earth” to hold Lemon accountable, despite a federal magistrate judge in Minnesota refusing Thursday to sign off on an initial charging request against him. While the judge approved arrests for three activists tied to the incident, Lemon was not charged at that time.
Dhillon described the judge’s refusal as “frustrating” but made clear the department is not backing down.
“We are going to do it because that is what is required for justice here,” Dhillon said. “From Sunday, when I first saw the video that Don Lemon himself put out about his conduct that day, it was clear to me that we have the predicates for pursuing FACE Act and conspiracy.”
The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, known as the FACE Act, makes it a federal crime to use force, threats, or physical obstruction to intimidate or interfere with individuals exercising their First Amendment right to worship at a place of religious assembly.
“We have aggressively and very rapidly sought legal process,” Dhillon said, adding that Lemon remains under active investigation. “He is not out of legal jeopardy. He has lawyered up, he has a prominent lawyer, and we’re going to pursue this to the ends of the Earth.”
?NEW: @HarmeetKDhillon tells @megynkelly DOJ will pursue Don Lemon charges “TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH”?
“He is NOT out of legal jeopardy.”@DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/W1XjXvlTjV
— Jason Cohen ?? (@JasonJournoDC) January 23, 2026
Lemon responded publicly to the administration’s efforts on Thursday, posting, “Here I am.”
His attorney, Abbe Lowell, issued a statement arguing that Lemon is protected by the First Amendment because he was present in his capacity as a journalist.
“It was no different than what he has done for more than 30 years, reporting and covering newsworthy events on the ground and engaging in constitutionally protected activity as a journalist,” Lowell said. He added that Lemon would fight any charges “vigorously and thoroughly” if prosecutors move forward.
Trump administration officials have pushed back on that defense. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said earlier this week that press protections do not apply when someone becomes embedded with protesters who unlawfully disrupt a church service.
“Freedom of the press extends to a lot of different areas,” Blanche told Fox News. “It does not extend to somebody just trespassing and being embedded with a group of rioters and being part of the group that storms inside of a church.”
The Justice Department has not announced when or how it plans to proceed next, but Dhillon said prosecutors are continuing to explore all available legal avenues.