The former CNN journalist Don Lemon was arrested Thursday night, not two weeks after he was on the ground covering an anti-ICE protest that disrupted a church service in Minneapolis.
Lemon entered Cities Church on Jan. 18 with a group of demonstrators rallying against ICE’s deadly presence in the city. The demonstrators stormed Cities Church because its pastor, David Easterwood, is an ICE director. The Trump administration was quick to admonish the protesters, vowing to bring them to justice for impeding a religious service. The Justice Department attempted to bring charges against several people involved in the demonstration, but a magistrate judge approved them for only three protesters.
The judge rejected charges against Lemon.
Abbe Lowell, an attorney for Lemon, released a statement following Lemon’s arrest Thursday night, which took place while he was in Los Angeles ahead of the Grammy Awards on Sunday.
“Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done,” Lowell wrote. “The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable. There is no more important time for people like Don to be doing this work.”
Lemon entered the church with the demonstrators, but he did appear to be covering the event. He was holding a microphone for his YouTube show and podcast, “The Don Lemon Show,” and at one point said, “I’m just here photographing, I’m not part of the group. … I’m a journalist.”
Donald Trump and his administration have repeatedly positioned themselves as champions of free speech, despite the president often suggesting that broadcasters and news outlets he does not like should have their licenses revoked or be criminally charged. Lemon’s arrest is not a Truth Social post, though, and appears to be a gross violation of the First Amendment, which protects freedom of the press.
“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, Lemon’s attorney, continued in his statement. “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.”
