Don Lemon Enters Not Guilty Plea At Arraignment For Anti-ICE Protest Arrest
By Danielle Jennings on February 13, 2026 at 4:45 PM EST
Don Lemon was back in court via his arraignment following his arrest late last month on charges that he participated in an anti-ICE protest at a local church in Minnesota.
The former CNN journalist, who now helms the successful YouTube program “The Don Lemon Show,” entered a not guilty plea to all counts against him.
Don Lemon Enters Not Guilty Plea During Arraignment Following Arrest
On Friday, February 13, Don Lemon appeared in a Minnesota federal court on charges stemming from his coverage of an anti-ICE protest at a local church, which he was broadcasting live for his online news program.
According to NBC News, the famed journalist stood in front of Magistrate Judge Douglas L. Micko and entered a plea of not guilty on all counts. The judge also told Lemon that he is “free to travel unless he were to violate any state or federal laws.”
During the hearing, the prosecutor in the case confirmed that Lemon’s cellphone was seized by authorities at the time of his arrest and a search warrant has since been obtained to investigate its contents.
Abbe Lowell, a member of Lemon’s legal team, said that seizing the cellphone was an action of possible “over-execution,” per the outlet.
This Is Lemon’s Second Court Appearance Since His Arrest
Following his January 29 arrest, Lemon was formally released from custody after a short court appearance on January 30, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “He’s committed to fighting this case,” Lemon’s attorney Marilyn Bednarski said at the time.
U.S. District Judge Patricia Donahue allowed Lemon to be released on a no money bond.
According to the 14-page indictment that was previously unsealed, Lemon “is charged with conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshipers,” per the Associated Press.
Following his release from custody, Lemon stood outside the courthouse before the media and issued a brief statement.
“I have spent my entire career covering the news. I will not stop now. There is no more important time than right night to cover the news…I will not stop now. I will not stop ever. I will not be silenced, I look forward to my day in court,” Lemon said.
The Journalist’s Arrest By Over Two Dozens Federal Agents Was Dubbed ‘Wildly Excessive’
While staying at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles to cover the 68th annual Grammy Awards, Lemon was taken into custody by more than two dozen federal agents, from both the FBI and Homeland Security, according to PEOPLE.
Per the outlet, Lemon was arrested around 11 p.m. local time in Los Angeles at the famed location, when agents showed up at his hotel room door.
The overwhelming response to Lemon’s arrest has generally been one of support for the journalist, and when the number of agents on hand to arrest him was released, the sentiment changed to what many believe to be a massive overreach.
“That is wildly excessive. That's treating someone like they have an assault rifle,” one commenter wrote in response to the PEOPLE details. “Two dozen heavily armed to arrest one man, very cowardly,” added another.
An additional comment read, “Our government is now targeting people who don't agree with their authoritarian agenda.”
Another user noted the danger permeating the country under the Trump administration. “We are in real danger of becoming worse than Russia.”
Don Lemon Was Mocked By The White House After His Arrest
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the White House openly mocked the award-winning journalist. A black-and-white photo of Lemon from the protest was posted with the caption, “When life gives you lemons,” alongside an emoji of chains.
Per Deadline, Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. and the CEO of the Center for Nonviolent Social Change, offered a blistering yet simple response to the post that many deemed racist.
King referred to the message as an example of “immaturity, poor taste, and fascism.”
CNN Came To His Defense Despite Being Terminated By The Network In 2023
In a surprising move, Lemon’s former network, CNN, posted a lengthy statement of support on his behalf and that of the other journalists who were arrested alongside him.
“The FBl’s arrest of our former CNN colleague Don Lemon raises profoundly concerning questions about press freedom and the First Amendment,” the network said in a statement, per The Hill.
“The Department of Justice already failed twice to get an arrest warrant for Don and several other journalists in Minnesota, where a chief judge of the Minnesota Federal District Court found there was ’no evidence’ that there was any criminal behavior involved in their work,” the statement said.
CNN also echoed the sentiments of the attack on the First Amendment that were present in Lemon’s statement.
“The First Amendment in the United States protects journalists who bear witness to news and events as they unfold, ensuring they can report freely in the public interest, and the DOJ’s attempts to violate those rights is unacceptable. We will be following this case closely,” the network’s statement concluded.
