Don Lemon hires federal prosecutor who resigned over Trump administration dispute

Source: The Independent

Tuesday 10 February 2026 21:17 EST


Don Lemon, the former CNN host, has secured legal representation from a federal prosecutor who resigned from his post amid a dispute with the Trump administration. A court filing on Tuesday revealed that Lemon, who is among nine individuals indicted for their alleged roles in disrupting a church service in Minnesota, has hired Joe Thompson.

Thompson, who previously served as interim U.S. Attorney, stepped down last month from the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office, where he had been leading major fraud investigations. His departure coincides with a broader exodus of prosecutors from the office, reportedly driven by growing frustration with the administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown and the Justice Department’s response to fatal shootings by federal officers in Minneapolis.

Lemon faces federal civil rights charges concerning his coverage of the church protest, which occurred at a church where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official was a pastor. He has previously stated, through another attorney, his intention to plead not guilty, asserting he was not affiliated with the group that disrupted the service and was present solely as an independent journalist.

The indictment, however, reportedly details various actions by the group, including comments made by Lemon during his livestream report on the event.

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/don-lemon-prosecutor-joe-thompson-b2917922.html