In brief
Don Lemon, indicted for his participation in a church protest against immigration enforcement, has enlisted Joe Thompson as his legal counsel. Thompson, who resigned from the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office after strained relations with the Trump administration, is poised to represent Lemon as the former host prepares to plead not guilty amid ongoing tensions regarding immigration enforcement policies. Lemon maintains that his actions were those of an independent journalist, not affiliations with activist groups.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Former CNN host Don Lemon has hired Joe Thompson, a recently resigned federal prosecutor, to represent him in a federal civil rights case linked to a protest conducted in a Minnesota church.
Thompson, who previously served as interim U.S. Attorney, is now tasked with defending Lemon as he faces charges related to his reported involvement in disrupting a church service where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official was a pastor.
An arraignment is set for February 13 in St. Paul, with Lemon prepared to plead not guilty. Lemon has expressed that he was acting in his capacity as an independent journalist during the protest, contradicting claims that he collaborated with the protesting group.
This indictment emerges during a phase of heightened frustration within the Department of Justice regarding immigration policies and recent violent incidents in Minneapolis. Thompson's previous investigations included numerous fraud cases in the state that have drawn the attention of federal authorities.
In recent comments, Lemon reaffirmed his stance of innocence, insisting that his journalistic role was misrepresented in the charges against him.
As tensions escalate over immigration and civil rights in Minnesota, Lemon's case could further underscore national debates over these critical issues.
