Lemon Is ‘Hiding Behind the SHIELD of Journalism,’ Says Former Justice Department Prosecutor

Former Justice Department prosecutor Jim Trusty has accused ex‑CNN anchor Don Lemon of “hiding behind the shield of journalism” after Lemon pleaded not guilty to federal civil rights charges stemming from an anti‑ICE protest in Minnesota. The case has sparked a fierce debate over press freedom, with free press organizations warning that prosecuting journalists for covering protests risks criminalizing reporting itself.