Former CNN host Don Lemon said Sunday that he believes the Trump administration will pursue criminal charges against him by any means necessary, even suggesting officials would be willing to sidestep judicial authority in order to prosecute him over his involvement in the disruption of a Minneapolis church service.
Lemon made the comments during a conversation with fellow former CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota, now a special events anchor for Scripps News. Throughout the discussion, Lemon repeatedly insisted he was not a protester and claimed he was present only as a journalist observing events on the ground.
According to Lemon, the administration is determined to target him and would be willing to manipulate or reinterpret the law to do so. He alleged that prosecutors would attempt to “retrofit” statutes or work around judges if necessary to bring charges.
A federal appeals court ruled Friday that the Department of Justice established probable cause to charge Lemon and four others in connection with the anti-ICE church storming in Minneapolis last weekend. However, the appeals court stopped short of compelling a lower court judge to sign arrest warrants in the case.
Camerota described Lemon during the interview as calm, resolute, and unapologetic. She said Lemon genuinely believes his actions were protected by the First Amendment because he was acting solely in a journalistic capacity. She also noted that a judge had already declined the Justice Department’s request to charge Lemon, even as the investigation into the protest continues and arrests have been made.
Camerota asked Lemon what he expected would happen next, given that one attempt to bring charges had already failed.
“I’m not naive,” Lemon replied. He said he expects repeated attempts from the administration, comparing his situation to past legal battles involving figures like New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey. Lemon said that if one approach fails, the administration will simply try another.
“If one doesn’t work, then they try something else and that fails, and they try something else and then they just don’t give up,” Lemon said. He added that he believes the goal is to save face rather than seek justice.
Lemon said he is preparing himself for a prolonged legal fight and expects to have to remain focused and resilient. He said he plans to stay strong and continue forward regardless of what comes next.
The former CNN host went further, claiming he fully expects the Trump administration to step outside the law if that becomes the only way to prosecute him. Lemon argued that he is being singled out because of his prominence.
“If there’s no law to fit, they will try to fit or retrofit something or go around a judge and just do it themselves,” Lemon said. He insisted that the legal arguments being made apply to protesters, not to him, because he maintains he was not acting as one.
Lemon said he believes he was targeted because he was the most recognizable figure present at the incident. He suggested that charging him would be viewed as a symbolic victory and said he was also responsible for bringing public attention to what happened.
The incident in question occurred last Sunday, when Lemon joined a large group of anti-ICE protesters who stormed Cities Church in Minneapolis during an active worship service. The protest was sparked by claims that one of the church’s pastors is affiliated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The FBI has arrested three organizers of the church disruption so far, including Black Lives Matter activist Nekima Levy Armstrong. The investigation remains ongoing as Lemon continues to deny any wrongdoing and insists his presence was strictly journalistic.
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