A federal indictment against journalist Don Lemon, stemming from his coverage of a protest at a Minnesota church, faces scrutiny as new video evidence appears to contradict key claims made by prosecutors. Lemon, a former CNN anchor now working as an independent journalist, was charged with civil rights violations. However, analysis of video footage, particularly by The Washington Post, suggests that the evidence presented in the indictment may not fully align with Lemon's actions. This situation raises important questions about the basis of the charges and the interpretation of his role as a journalist covering a contentious event.
Background of the Case
The charges against Don Lemon, along with two other individuals, Georgia Fort and Jerome Richardson, are linked to an anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protest that took place at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. The protest disrupted a church service. Lemon was covering the event live via livestream for his YouTube channel.
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Date of Indictment: Details surrounding the exact date of the indictment vary, but reports indicate it occurred in early February 2026.
Nature of Charges: Lemon, Fort, and Richardson face federal charges including conspiracy and violating First Amendment rights.
Lemon's Stated Role: Lemon has maintained that he was present at the church solely as a journalist to document the protest and was not a participant. He has stated he is not affiliated with the protest group.
Legal Proceedings: Don Lemon has entered a not guilty plea to the charges.
Contradictory Video Evidence
A central point of contention revolves around the interpretation of video footage from the event. The Washington Post's review of this video appears to offer a different perspective on Lemon's actions than what is outlined in the federal indictment.
Washington Post Analysis: Reports indicate that The Washington Post's investigation, utilizing visual forensics, found discrepancies between the indictment's claims and the video evidence. The specific nature of these contradictions is not fully detailed in the provided summaries, but the implication is that the video does not support the assertion that Lemon actively participated in or conspired to violate protesters' rights.
Defense Claims: Lemon's legal team, led by attorney Abbe Lowell, has characterized the government's actions, including the seizure of Lemon's phone, as a potential "over-execution." The defense has consistently argued that Lemon was acting as a journalist.
New Video Evidence: Several sources highlight that "new video evidence" has emerged or been analyzed, which appears to "deflate" or "contradict" the Justice Department's (DOJ) claims.
Actors Involved and Their Stated Positions
The case involves several key individuals and entities, each with their own stated position or role.
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| Actor | Stated Position / Role |
|---|---|
| Don Lemon | Independent journalist, covering the protest. Pleaded not guilty. Denies participation in the protest. |
| Georgia Fort | Independent journalist, arrested alongside Lemon. Also faces charges. |
| Jerome Richardson | College student, charged alongside Lemon and Fort. |
| Federal Prosecutors | Allege conspiracy and violation of First Amendment rights based on Lemon's actions during the protest. |
| The Washington Post | Conducted a review of video evidence, findings of which appear to contradict key claims in the indictment. |
| Lemon's Attorney | Considers the seizure of Lemon's phone an "over-execution" and is defending Lemon against the charges. |
| Cities Church | Location of the protest, where an ICE official is a pastor. The service was disrupted. |
Legal and First Amendment Implications
The case raises significant questions about the intersection of journalism, protest, and legal rights, particularly concerning the First Amendment.
Freedom of the Press: Lemon's defense centers on his right to report on events. The indictment's framing of his actions as criminal activity, rather than journalistic coverage, is a key point of contention.
Conspiracy Charges: The specific allegations of conspiracy suggest prosecutors believe Lemon was part of a plan to disrupt the church or infringe on others' rights. The video evidence, as interpreted by some reports, appears to challenge this notion.
Judicial Proceedings: Don Lemon was informed of the charges against him and entered a plea of not guilty. He has been granted permission to travel, provided he does not violate any laws.
Expert Analysis and Public Reaction
While direct expert analysis is limited in the provided data, the reporting highlights the gravity of the situation and the potential for legal challenges to the indictment. One summary expresses a strong opinion that Lemon is guilty, while others focus on the evidence potentially undermining the charges.
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Summary from Twitchy: This source expresses a strong, partisan viewpoint, asserting guilt and predicting Lemon will "preach about his victory on his stupid little podcast." It frames Lemon as having "participated" in the event.
Implication of "Deflating" Claims: The phrasing in multiple articles suggests that the new video evidence weakens the prosecution's case significantly, potentially creating an uphill battle for the government.
Conclusion and Future Steps
The core of the developing situation lies in the apparent disparity between the federal indictment's assertions and the visual evidence reviewed by The Washington Post. Don Lemon has formally entered a plea of not guilty, signaling his intention to contest the charges.
Key Question: Does the video evidence definitively show Lemon acting as a journalist or as a participant in the protest?
Next Steps: The legal process will likely involve further examination and presentation of evidence in court. The defense will aim to leverage the video analysis to demonstrate that Lemon was engaged in legitimate journalistic activity. The prosecution will need to present evidence that overcomes the apparent contradictions.
Sources Used
The Washington Post: Published analysis of video evidence, framing it as potentially contradictory to the indictment.
Link:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2026/02/13/don-lemon-minnesota-church-protest/The Root: Reported on The Washington Post's analysis, suggesting it exposed "lies" about Lemon's arrest.
Link:
https://www.theroot.com/new-washington-post-analysis-exposes-lies-about-don-lem-2000089899Political Wire: Noted that new video evidence contradicts the federal indictment.
Link:
https://politicalwire.com/2026/02/13/new-video-contradicts-federal-indictment-of-don-lemon/Alternet: Stated that new video evidence deflates the DOJ's claims.
Link:
https://www.alternet.org/don-lemon-doj/The Guardian: Reported on Don Lemon pleading not guilty and highlighted his claims of being present as a journalist.
Link:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/13/don-lemon-pleads-not-guilty-anti-ice-protest-minnesotaWashington Informer: Covered Don Lemon entering a not guilty plea and discussed the legal aspects of his case.
Link:
https://www.washingtoninformer.com/don-lemon-journalist-indictment-protest/First Amendment Watch (MTSU): Detailed the federal civil rights charges against journalist Don Lemon after covering the protest.
Link:
https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/post/journalist-don-lemon-charged-with-federal-civil-rights-crimes-after-covering-anti-ice-church-protest/BBC News: Reported on Don Lemon facing charges after covering an anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church.
Link:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c24gm3dz36poThe Guardian: Reported on Don Lemon stating agents were sent to arrest him despite an offer to turn himself in.
Link:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/03/don-lemon-arrestTwitchy: Provided a commentary piece that appeared critical of Don Lemon and his legal situation.
Link:
https://twitchy.com/brettt/2026/02/14/wapos-review-of-video-appears-to-contradict-indictments-claims-about-don-lemons-actions-n2425024
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