Former CNN anchor Don Lemon taken into custody after protest at Minnesota church service

Journalist Don Lemon was arrested overnight, his attorney confirmed Friday. The arrest follows an anti-immigration protest Lemon attended nearly two weeks prior that disrupted a church service in Minnesota.

Federal Investigation and Arrest

A grand jury was empaneled Thursday, and the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations were involved in Lemon’s arrest, which occurred in Los Angeles while he was covering the Grammy Awards. Three others were also arrested in connection with the case, bringing the total number of arrests to seven, though the status of an eighth individual the Justice Department initially sought to charge remains unclear.

Legal Challenges and First Amendment Concerns

Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, stated that the Justice Department is pursuing the arrest instead of investigating the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota. Lowell characterized the arrest as an “unprecedented attack on the First Amendment” and vowed a vigorous defense. CNN, Lemon’s former employer, expressed concern over the implications for press freedom.

Did You Know? A magistrate judge previously rejected arrest warrants for Lemon and four others, finding “no evidence” of criminal behavior related to their reporting.

The Justice Department previously sought arrest warrants, but a federal appellate court declined to compel a lower court to sign them. However, one judge on the appellate court indicated there was probable cause for the arrests. The initial charges against other protesters – Nekima Levy Armstrong and Chauntyll Louisa Allen – saw one civil rights charge approved by a magistrate judge, while a FACE Act charge was dismissed due to lack of probable cause.

Focus on Pre-Protest Meeting

Federal prosecutors are scrutinizing a video of a pre-protest meeting filmed by Lemon, attended by other defendants including Allen, Armstrong, and Jamael Lydell Lundy. The Justice Department alleges this meeting provides evidence of a conspiracy to interfere with religious rights. Lemon was filming the meeting as part of his reporting.

Expert Insight: The Justice Department’s continued pursuit of charges, despite previous rejections of arrest warrants, suggests a strong belief that a crime was committed, or a determination to establish legal precedent regarding the boundaries of journalistic activity at protests.

Lemon’s career includes over 15 years at CNN, where he was terminated in 2023. He briefly hosted a show on X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, before that partnership ended. He currently hosts a show on YouTube.

Frequently Asked Questions

What charges does Don Lemon face?

Lemon faces charges of conspiracy to deprive others of their civil rights and violation of the FACE Act, allegedly for interfering with the exercise of others’ First Amendment rights.

What was the nature of the protest that led to these charges?

The protest occurred at St. Paul’s Cities Church after demonstrators learned that one of its pastors is an ICE official.

Has the Justice Department faced internal disagreement regarding these charges?

Federal prosecutors in Minneapolis initially had concerns about the strength of the evidence, leading the Justice Department to send lawyers from its Civil Rights Division in Washington to handle the proceedings.

What role does the First Amendment play in this case, and how might it impact the outcome?