Marjorie Taylor Greene defends Don Lemon's arrest, calls his actions 'activism'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A tense exchange unfolded on ‘Real Time with Bill Maher’ this week after former Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene openly defended the arrest of former CNN anchor Don Lemon, arguing that his actions crossed the line from journalism into activism.

The debate, which aired days after Lemon’s release from federal custody, left Maher visibly conflicted and the studio audience divided.

The discussion came after Lemon, 59, was arrested by federal authorities in connection with a January 18 protest at Cities Church in St Paul, Minnesota, where demonstrators disrupted a worship service to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Lemon was released Friday, Jan 30, on a personal recognizance bond after a federal magistrate judge raised questions about whether there was enough evidence to justify the arrests.

Bill Maher initially pushes back as audience reacts

The moment took an unexpected turn when Maher mentioned Lemon’s arrest and heard a member of the audience express approval.

“They arrested Don Lemon. Somebody went yes, like, good,” Maher said, clearly taken aback. “It’s not good to arrest him.”

Maher initially framed the arrest as a troubling example of overreach, questioning how detaining a journalist could be justified. But his firm stance began to soften as Greene stepped in and laid out her argument.

Greene said Lemon’s actions were not protected by the First Amendment and should not be viewed as journalism at all.

“Well, I’m going to say he violated the FACE Act,” Greene said. “He went into a church, disrupted their worship, and then later in an interview, compared them to white supremacists. That’s not journalism. That’s activism.”

Maher pushed back, asking whether the behavior truly warranted an arrest rather than public criticism or professional consequences.

Marjorie Taylor Greene cites FACE Act and past prosecutions

Greene doubled down, pointing to the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which prohibits interference with religious worship and access to certain facilities.

“Disrupting a worship service, stopping people’s right to worship God? That is violation of the FACE Act,” she said.

She then drew a comparison to past prosecutions under the same law, noting that under the Biden administration, pro-life activists were sentenced to prison time for praying near abortion clinics.

“Under the Biden administration, pro-lifers were sent to prison up to 11 years for praying in front of an abortion clinic, and they were convicted under the FACE Act,” Greene said. “So I don’t think that’s journalism. That’s not First Amendment, going in and harassing people in the middle of church.”

Maher, appearing torn between principle and practicality, attempted to lighten the moment.

“Okay, but can we just charge him with ‘not cool, man’?” he asked.

Greene was unmoved. “I completely support his arrest,” she replied.

Don Lemon says arrest will not stop his reporting

Lemon was arrested following the January protest at Cities Church in St Paul, where demonstrators disrupted a service while voicing opposition to ICE. Federal prosecutors charged him in connection with the incident, though a magistrate judge questioned whether the evidence was sufficient.

After being released Friday, Lemon spoke to reporters outside a downtown federal courthouse and said the arrest would not deter him from continuing his work.

“I will not stop ever,” Lemon said. “I will continue doing what I do.”