Don Lemon just got a federal warning — and it wasn’t subtle.
The ex-CNN news commentator is now under Justice Department scrutiny over allegations he joined a mob of anti-ICE protesters who stormed a Sunday church service in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon went straight for the jugular — publicly putting Lemon on blast. “A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest! It is a space protected from exactly such acts by federal criminal and civil laws! Nor does the First Amendment protect your pseudo journalism of disrupting a prayer service,” Dhillon chided Lemon on X. “You are on notice!”
A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest! It is a space protected from exactly such acts by federal criminal and civil laws! Nor does the First Amendment protect your pseudo journalism of disrupting a prayer service.
You are on notice! https://t.co/5QASu6N4OE
— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) January 19, 2026
Dhillon doubled down, accusing the crowd of “desecrating a house of worship and interfering with Christian worshippers” — and saying the feds weren’t just watching… they were moving.
The @CivilRights is investigating the potential violations of the federal FACE Act by these people desecrating a house of worship and interfering with Christian worshippers. @AGPamBondi https://t.co/uZBBv1iuuH
— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) January 18, 2026
Lemon, for his part, wasn’t backing down.
He dismissed calls for prosecution and insisted the whole thing was being distorted — claiming he had “no affiliations” with the organization and defending his presence as “an act of journalism,” protected by the First Amendment.
Watch the clips below:
Don Lemon, after learning of a possible DOJ investigation, attempts to spin the story as if he wasn’t aware of the anti-ICE extremist group’s operational plans to storm the church:
“I didn’t even know they were going to this church until we followed them there. We were there… pic.twitter.com/EgqClhQDbG
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) January 19, 2026
Don Lemon is having a total meltdown after being called out for his complicity in the anti-ICE church raid in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Sunday.
Lemon interviewed the raiders BEFORE they went in. Then he went in with them as they spewed their anti-ICE hate and lies.
He should have… https://t.co/ifgY1x4f0B pic.twitter.com/j8n20x4ji7
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) January 19, 2026
Dhillon reacted to Lemon’s defense on The Benny Show Monday morning.
🚨 BREAKING: Assistant AG Harmeet Dhillon confirms Don Lemon is NOT PROTECTED from FACE Act charges after the left stormed a church with him
“He CLEARLY knew about the violation of federal law.”
“The only question is HOW MANY CHARGES will be brought?” 🔥pic.twitter.com/YFZJKftBFt
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 19, 2026
