Don Lemon put 'on notice' by DOJ for role in covering protest that stormed church
Lemon said First Amendment is about the 'freedom to protest'
By
Brian FloodFox NewsPublished
January 19, 2026 12:21pm ESTclose
VideoHarmeet Dhillon on Don Lemon's coverage of protesters who stormed church
Harmeet Dhillon talks with Benny Johnson about the agitators who stormed a Minnesota church, which was covered live by Don Lemon.
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Former CNN host Don Lemon has been put "on notice" by the Justice Department after he joined anti-ICE agitators who stormed a church in Minneapolis during a service on Sunday.
Lemon, who has been posting independent journalism online since being fired by CNN, has been documenting the Minnesota chaos following the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Nicole Good. He entered the church along with anti-ICE agitators and began filming, telling viewers that "the freedom to protest" is what the First Amendment is all about.
But Harmeet Dhillon, the Justice Department’s assistant attorney general for civil rights, disagrees with Lemon.
DOJ LAUNCHES CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATION AFTER MINNESOTA AGITATORS STORM CHURCH
"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," Dhillon wrote on X.
Dhillon also said she is in touch with Attorney General Pamela Bondi on the issue.
"We are all over it. We are investigating potential criminal violations of federal law," Dhillon wrote.
In an interview with Benny Johnson on Monday, Dhillon said Lemon's role as a journalist wasn't necessarily a "shield" for him being a potential party to a crime.
VideoLemon was fired by CNN in 2023 after 17 years at the network and how hosts an independent show.
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This is a developing story, more to come…
Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
Brian Flood is a media editor/reporter for FOX News Digital. Story tips can be sent to brian.flood@fox.com and on Twitter: @briansflood.
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