Don Lemon Arrested While Covering Anti-ICE Protest
▼ Summary
– Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested by federal agents in Los Angeles for allegedly violating federal law while covering an anti-ICE protest in Minnesota.
– Independent journalist Georgia Fort and Minnesota State Senate candidate Jamael Lundy were also arrested, with authorities claiming they were part of a coordinated attack on a church.
– Lemon’s attorney stated the arrest was politically motivated, arguing his work was constitutionally protected and criticizing the Justice Department’s priorities.
– The arrest stemmed from Lemon observing a protest that disrupted a church service two weeks prior, with federal authorities claiming he was a participant, not a journalist.
– A local judge had previously denied a warrant for Lemon’s arrest, but a grand jury was later empaneled to issue the arrest involving the FBI and HSI.
The recent arrest of Don Lemon, a prominent journalist and former CNN anchor, has ignited a significant debate over press freedoms and law enforcement tactics. Federal agents in Los Angeles took Lemon into custody, alleging he broke federal law while reporting on an anti-ICE protest in Minnesota. This incident is part of a broader pattern, as authorities also targeted other journalists covering the same event, raising serious questions about the protection of First Amendment rights.
Independent journalist Georgia Fort reported that FBI agents arrived at her home to make an arrest related to her presence at the Minnesota protest, an action later confirmed by Attorney General Pam Bondi. Bondi characterized the journalists’ activities as part of a “coordinated attack” on a church, announcing additional arrests including that of Jamael Lundy, a candidate for the Minnesota State Senate. These coordinated arrests suggest a concerning approach by federal authorities toward members of the press documenting public demonstrations.
In a formal statement, Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, strongly defended his client’s actions. Lowell emphasized that Lemon was engaged in standard journalistic work, protected by the Constitution, and was actually covering the Grammy Awards at the time of his arrest. The attorney sharply criticized the Justice Department’s priorities, stating, “Instead of investigating the federal agents who killed Minnesota protesters, the Trump Justice Department is devoting its time, attention, and resources to this arrest.” Lemon plans to contest the charges vigorously in court.
The controversy stems from an event two weeks earlier where Lemon observed a group of protesters who disrupted a church service in St. Paul. While Lemon and his legal team assert he was there strictly as a journalist, federal prosecutors argued he was participating as a protester, attempting to interfere with worship services. Notably, a local magistrate judge rejected the initial warrant request for Lemon and several protesters, a decision later supported by a federal appellate panel. Despite these judicial setbacks, a grand jury was convened, leading to the arrest carried out by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations.
(Source: The Verge)
