Independent Journalist and former CNN anchor, Don Lemon, is now caught in the crosshairs of the Department of Justice.

On Jan. 18, activists entered Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, chanting and demanding justice for Renee Good, whose tragic death at the hands of an ICE officer sparked outrage across the country. The church became a specific target after one of the pastors was alleged to work for ICE.

Lemon followed protesters into the house of worship and filmed as part of what one organizer called “Operation Pull Up,” telling viewers he was there to report, not to participate. Though now he has been accused of leading the protest.

After the footage of the Minneapolis protest went viral, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon is signaling possible federal charges.

In an email response to NBC News, Lemon wrote, “It’s notable that I’ve been cast as the face of a protest I was covering as a journalist — especially since I wasn’t the only reporter there."

He also pointed to a flood of violent threats plus racist and homophobic slurs aimed at him online.

"If this much time and energy is going to be spent manufacturing outrage, it would be far better used investigating the tragic death of Renee Nicole Good — the very issue that brought people into the streets in the first place," he continued.

Dhillon flagged possible violations of two controversial laws designed to protect access to religious worship: the FACE Act, which safeguards people’s ability to attend services, and the Reconstruction-era Civil Rights Act of 1871, also known as the Ku Klux Klan Act, which was passed to protect the Civil Rights of Black Americans.

"Whenever anyone conspires to violate the protected civil rights of American citizens, the Klan Act can be used to bring a conspiracy charge," she said. However, it’s still unclear how this law applies to this specific circumstance.

Since Lemon’s controversial departure from CNN in 2023, his voice and following online have only grown, as he’s kept his boots on the ground, covering the political landscape and connecting with everyday people.

With a robust online following, he has become a trusted and outspoken voice in a climate where many Black journalists have been quietly pushed out of newsrooms.