Trump Administration Arrests Journalists, Crosses New Line on Press Freedom

Two journalists were arrested for doing their job. In America. In 2026.

The Trump administration has crossed a new line in its year-long campaign against press freedom. On January 31st, the Department of Justice announced criminal charges against nine people, including Don Lemon, the former CNN anchor, and Georgia Fort, a freelance reporter from Minnesota. Their alleged crime? Covering a protest at a St. Paul church.

What Actually Happened

The incident traces back to January 18th, when Minnesota activists organized a demonstration during services at Cities Church, a Southern Baptist congregation whose pastor reportedly works as acting director of an ICE field office. Protesters chanted "ICE out" during the Sunday service.

Don Lemon was there as a journalist, livestreaming coverage on his YouTube channel and interviewing activists before the protest. Georgia Fort filmed the demonstration from inside the church. Throughout his livestream, Lemon repeatedly emphasized he was there "as a reporter, not an activist." Fort similarly posted on Instagram: "My job as a journalist is to document what's happening."

Videos of the disrupted church service sparked outrage on the right. Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, called it "demonic and godless behavior" on X and promised DOJ would "pursue federal charges." When Attorney General Pam Bondi announced she'd spoken with church leadership, X comments flooded in demanding immediate arrests.

Legally Dubious Charges

The prosecution appears to rest on shaky legal ground. The DOJ is using the FACE Act, a 1994 law designed to prevent anti-abortion protesters from blocking access to reproductive health clinics. They're applying a lesser-known provision that extends similar protections to houses of worship—a provision that's apparently never been used before.

Kyle Boynton, who recently left his position as a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division, told reporters this provision is "plainly unconstitutional" and the case is "very likely to face dismissal." His assessment carries weight—he prosecuted FACE Act cases while at DOJ.

The weakness of the government's case became clear early on. Two separate federal judges found prosecutors had failed to show probable cause to arrest Lemon. Judge Patrick Schiltz wrote bluntly: "There is no evidence" that Lemon and his producer "engaged in any criminal behavior or conspired to do so."

But DOJ didn't give up. When magistrate judges refused to sign arrest warrants, prosecutors went to a grand jury instead. The resulting indictment bears only the names of political appointees—a hint that career Justice Department employees may have wanted no part of it.

Propaganda, Not Law Enforcement

This prosecution is best understood not as legitimate law enforcement but as political theater designed to intimidate the press. The administration's handling of the case has been deliberately humiliating. Instead of allowing defendants to turn themselves in, federal agents arrested and handcuffed them in public. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem published perp walk photos on social media, violating the Justice Department's own internal rules.

Most disturbing, the White House published what appears to be an AI-altered photo of defendant Nekima Levy Armstrong, adding tears to her face and darkening her skin. Levy Armstrong, like Allen, Lemon, and Fort, is Black.

The timing tells the story. DOJ leadership forecasted charges on social media—something previous administrations rarely did. Bondi and Dhillon's eagerness to announce prosecutions before investigations were complete suggests this case is driven more by political pressure than legal merit.

The Chilling Effect

Even if these charges ultimately fail in court—as many of Trump's DOJ cases against protesters have—the damage to press freedom may already be done. Federal officers arrested Lemon in Los Angeles while he was preparing to cover the Grammy Awards. Fort broadcast video of masked officers peering into her home's windows before taking her into custody.

The National Association of Black Journalists and other press freedom organizations released statements voicing alarm over "the government's escalating effort and actions to criminalize and threaten press freedom under the guise of law enforcement." Minnesota news organizations jointly condemned the prosecutions: "In America, we do not arrest journalists for doing their jobs."

Abbe Lowell, Lemon's attorney, said his client "will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court." Lowell also represents New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose prosecution by Trump's DOJ quickly collapsed.