They stormed the church for a headline — and got one from the DOJ.
Federal authorities arrested three additional people Friday in the investigation into a protest that disrupted a Sunday service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota — a case that also ensnared former CNN anchor Don Lemon, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“At my direction, early this morning, federal agents arrested Don Lemon, Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Lydell Lundy, in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota,” Bondi wrote on X, saying more details would be released “soon.”
At my direction, early this morning federal agents arrested Don Lemon, Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Lydell Lundy, in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
More details soon.
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) January 30, 2026
Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, said Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles while covering the Grammy Awards and insisted Lemon was acting as a journalist.
“Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done,” Lowell said in a statement. “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.”
“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… Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court,” Lowell added.
Earlier this month, Lemon livestreamed the incident as protesters entered the church over claims a pastor had ties to ICE, with Lemon telling viewers that “the freedom to protest” is what the First Amendment is all about, according to accounts of the livestream and the case.
A federal magistrate judge in Minnesota previously declined to approve the Justice Department’s initial effort to charge Lemon in connection with the episode, CBS News reported.
The Justice Department has indicated it was examining the church disruption under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, a law the department notes also covers certain conduct involving “places of religious worship,” including intentional property damage
