Don Lemon Seeks Dismissal of Federal Civil Rights Charges

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon asked a federal judge in Minnesota to dismiss an indictment that accuses him of conspiring to violate the FACE Act and other civil‑rights statutes after he live‑streamed a protest at Cities Church in St. Paul. Lemon’s lawyers argue the case is a vindictive prosecution rooted in President Donald Trump’s long‑standing animus toward the journalist, asserting that the charges infringe on Lemon’s First Amendment right to document news events.

The Justice Department secured the indictment after a magistrate judge rejected an earlier complaint, and prosecutors proceeded via a grand jury despite claims that the government ignored standard surrender procedures. Lemon has pleaded not guilty and maintains that his actions were limited to reporting, not participating in the protest.