Former CNN journalist Don Lemon was arrested on Thursday, Jan. 29, on charges of violating federal law related to recording an anti-immigration protest during a Sunday church service in Minnesota.
Lemon was on site at Cities Church in St. Paul on Sunday, Jan. 18, when protesters disrupted the service, alleging that one of the church’s pastors serves as the acting field director of the St. Paul Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office.
The demonstration followed recent shootings involving ICE in the city, including the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good and the wounding of a Venezuelan migrant during an attempted arrest.
Lemon was present as an independent journalist representing his broadcast, “The Don Lemmon Show.” During his livestream, he was heard repeatedly saying, “I’m not here as an activist. I’m here as a journalist.” He then went on to report on the events and interview both churchgoers and demonstrators.
A statement from Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, regarding the arrest was released on Lemon’s social media accounts.
In the post, Lowell stated that Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents in Los Angeles while covering the Grammy Awards.
Lowell went on to acknowledge that Lemon’s actions in Minneapolis were “no different” from what he has done throughout his 30-year career as a journalist.
“The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable.”
“Instead of investigating the federal agents who killed two peaceful Minnesota protesters, the Trump justice department is devoting its time, attention and resources to this arrest, and that is the real indictment of wrongdoing in this case,” Lowell added. “This unprecedented attack on the first amendment and transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration will not stand. Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court.”
According to a Justice Department official, Lemon is charged with conspiring to deprive others of their civil rights and violating the FACE Act by allegedly obstructing access to a house of worship.
The charges come after a previous attempt by the Trump administration to shut down Lemon’s broadcast, to which he responded with, “Keep trying. That’s not going to stop me from being a journalist. That’s not going to diminish my voice. Go ahead, make me into the new Jimmy Kimmel, if you want. Just do it. Because I’m not going anywhere.”
On Jan. 22, an initial arrest warrant for Lemon was denied approval by both a federal judge and an appeals court judge due to a lack of evidence of wrongdoing or incitement of injustice. However, the arrest was ultimately carried out under direct orders from the Trump administration.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the arrests in a social media post on Friday morning, stating that Lemon and several other journalists present during the protest were taken into custody.
“At my direction, early this morning, federal agents arrested Don Lemon, Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Lydell Lundy, in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota,” Bondi posted on X.
Local independent journalist Georgia Fort, who was also present at the church protest, livestreamed the moments before her arrest on Friday morning on Facebook Live, stating, “agents are at my door right now,” and that they had an arrest warrant and a grand jury indictment.
Fort said the arrest stemmed from her work as a journalist.
“I don’t feel like I have my First Amendment right as a member of the press because now the federal agents are at my door, arresting me for filming the church protest a few weeks ago.”
Fort added that she knew she was on a sealed list of defendants and said she did not publish the livestream.
According to CNN, Lemon is expected to make a court appearance on Friday, Jan. 30.