Feds Arrest Journalists for Reporting on Minnesota Church Protests
The federal authorities arrested two journalists ostensibly over their reportage of a Minnesota protest that took place earlier in the month. KARE reports that Don Lemon, former CNN host, and Emmy award-winning Minnesota journalist Georgia Fort have been arrested on unspecified charges.
Prior to the protest on January 18, three people including Minneapolis civil right attorney Nekima Armstrong were arrested. A pastor at the St. Paul Cities Church also served as the acting director for the local ICE office. The arrests were based on the FACE Act (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances), a law passed in 1994 that prohibits the use of physical force or threats of violence to intimidate or harm anyone seeking or providing reproductive healthcare services, or to exercise their right to religion. The authorities had tried before to convince a Minnesota judge to approve a warrant of arrest for Lemon, but he refused. Lemon’s attorney confirmed that he was arrested in Los Angeles on Thursday evening while covering the Grammy Awards. Fort, who posted a Facebook Live on Friday morning, was arrested. Fort stated in her video that she was arrested because, as a journalist, she filmed a church protest just a few months ago. It’s difficult to comprehend how we could have Constitutional Rights and a Constitution when you can be arrested just for being part of the media. The Minnesota Reformer reports that she was released on Friday after the judge disregarded the prosecutors’ argument to keep her in prison because of “violent nature” of her crimes. She was accused of conspiracy to violate the religious freedom of others and of interfering in the practice of religion at a religious place. Abbe Lowell’s statement, Lemon’s lawyer, noted that “The First Amendment is there to protect journalists who are tasked with shining light on truths and holding those in power responsible.”
Lowell added that this was a transparent attempt to divert attention away from the crises that this administration is facing.
He said that Lemon would fight the charges in court vigorously. Lemon was released by his attorney on his own recognizance. Levy Armstrong said that she believes her arrest, which occurred Thursday night, was “political revenge.” This is a struggle for racial equality. It is important to remember that this fight is for our Constitutional rights.
Following her arrest, last week, White House official social media posted a photo AI altered of Levy Armstrong’s “perp-walk” which made it look like she was weeping as federal agents led her.
On my instruction, federal agents were arrested early this morning by me in relation to the coordinated attack against Cities Church, St. Paul Minnesota.
More details soon.
— Pamela Bondi, Attorney General (@AGPamBondi), January 30, 2026.
Pam Bondi, Attorney General, announced on Twitter.com the arrests of Jamael Lydell Lundy and Trahern Crews, acivist and community organizer who is running for Minnesota’s state senate. Subscribe to the podcast ‘Crime Stories With Nancy Grace’ for the latest news on true crimes and justice.
[Featured image: Don Lemon and Georgia Fort/Facebook]
