The intersection of movie star feuds, federal regulation, and the First Modification is presently centered on one man: Don Lemon. The previous CNN anchor, now an unbiased journalist, finds himself on the coronary heart of a high-stakes authorized battle and a viral confrontation with rap icon-turned-MAGA darling Nicki Minaj. The drama stems from Lemon’s protection of a January 2026 anti-ICE protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, which has now escalated right into a standoff with the Division of Justice.
Supply: Astrid Stawiarz/OLIVIER TOURON
In accordance with CBS Information, a Minnesota federal Justice of the Peace decide, Douglas Micko, just lately refused to signal a felony criticism that will have formally charged Don Lemon in reference to the protest. The choice has reportedly stunned Lawyer Basic Pam Bondi, who has been on the bottom in Minnesota because the Justice Division makes an attempt to crack down on the civil unrest following the deadly capturing of Renee Good by an ICE officer earlier this month.
Whereas the authorized battle performs out in courtroom, a separate firestorm is raging on social media. As BOSSIP beforehand reported, Nicki Minaj, who has more and more aligned herself with conservative speaking heads, took to X to name for Lemon’s arrest, utilizing a sequence of homophobic slurs and calling him a “thug.”
“I WANT THAT THUG IN JAIL!!!!! HE WOULD NEVER DO THAT TO ANY OTHER RELIGION. LOCK HIM UP!!!!!” Minaj posted to her followers.
In an unique interview with Scripps Information, Lemon had a few reads for Mrs. Petty. In his response, he labeled Minaj a “homophobe” and a “racist” in opposition to her personal group. He steered that the rapper is “out of her depth” and doesn’t perceive the fundamental tenets of journalism or the First Modification.
“So I stated, why do African People help her, why do homosexual folks help her, members of the LGBTQ group help her? You shouldn’t as a result of she’s a homophobe and he or she’s a racist. She’s racist, I imagine, in opposition to Black People,” Lemon said.
A Federal Decide Refuses To See Possible Trigger In Don Lemon’s Case
Regardless of the general public outcry from Minaj and distinguished conservatives, Decide Micko remained skeptical of the federal government’s case. Whereas three protesters, together with civil rights legal professional Nekima Levy Armstrong and college board member Chauntyll Louisa Allen, have been arrested and charged with conspiring to intervene with non secular rights, the decide crossed the second cost of “bodily obstruction” off their warrants, citing a scarcity of possible trigger.
For Don Lemon, the decide’s refusal to signal his arrest warrant is a brief victory for press freedom. His legal professional, Abbe Lowell, launched an announcement emphasizing that Lemon was merely doing the identical job he had achieved for 30 years.
“The Justice of the Peace’s actions verify the character of Don’s First Modification protected work this weekend in Minnesota as a reporter,” Lowell said CBS Information.
Whereas the Justice of the Peace decide’s resolution is a blow to ICE supporters, the Justice Division is reportedly searching for other ways to convey expenses in opposition to the journalist. Assistant Lawyer Basic Harmeet Dhillon has argued that being a member of the press just isn’t a “badge or a defend” that protects a person from felony penalties if they’re a part of a conspiracy to disrupt a spiritual service.
Lemon himself stays defiant, telling Scripps Information that he believes the DOJ will “attempt to match or retrofit one thing” simply to silence him.
“I used to be not a protester. In case you have a look at all of the proof, I’m not a protester,” Lemon insisted. Because the Trump administration continues to push for management within the Twin Cities, Don Lemon has turn out to be the face of a bigger debate over the place reporting ends and activism begins.
