Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested late Thursday on charges of violating federal law during a protest at a Minnesota church earlier this month, according to his lawyer.
Abbe Lowell, Lemon’s attorney, stated that Lemon was “taken into custody by federal agents last night in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy awards.”
“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 said. “The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role is to shine a 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.”
The New York Times and CBS News also reported the arrest on Friday morning. It is understood that Lemon remains in custody as of Friday. The Guardian has contacted the Department of Justice for comment, and it is not yet clear what specific charges Lemon is facing.
CNN reported that Lemon is expected to make a court appearance on Friday.
“This is outrageous and cannot stand. The First Amendment is under attack in America!” wrote Lemon’s former CNN colleague Jim Acosta in a post on X.
The arrest follows last week’s unusual decision by a federal magistrate judge to decline signing off on an arrest warrant for Lemon, a move that reportedly angered U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“We’re going to pursue this to the ends of the Earth,” said Harmeet Dhillon, head of the department’s civil rights division, during an interview with Megyn Kelly on Friday.
In a video posted to his online show’s YouTube channel, Lemon attended a protest on January 18 where demonstrators disrupted a church service. In an interview with Lemon, a protester described the action as a clandestine operation to disrupt “business as usual” at a surprise location. Three demonstrators have already been arrested in connection with the protest on charges of conspiring to interfere with the civil rights of others.
“Our church had gathered for worship, which we do every Sunday. We asked them to leave and they have not,” said the church’s pastor, Jonathan Parnell, in an interview with Lemon. Lemon also noted during the interaction that protesters had chosen the church because someone there “was a member of ICE.”
Donald Trump has criticized Lemon, calling him a “loser, lightweight.”
“I saw him the way he walked in that church, it was terrible,” Trump said during a White House press briefing. “I have such respect for that pastor. He was so calm, he was so nice. He was just accosted. What they did in that church was horrible.”
After the magistrate judge rejected charges against Lemon, Lowell argued that the Department of Justice should drop its efforts against his client.
“Should the Department of Justice continue with a stunning and troubling effort to silence and punish a journalist for doing his job, Don will call out their latest attack on the rule of law and fight any charges vigorously and thoroughly in court,” he said.
Lemon left CNN in 2023 after a 17-year career at the network. As the host of the network’s 10 p.m. hour for several years, his prominence grew as a frequent critic of Trump during his first administration, famously labeling him a racist. His exit from the network was abrupt, coming only a few months after he switched to co-host the network’s morning show.
After originally planning to launch a show on X, owned by Elon Musk, Lemon ultimately became fully independent and now hosts a self-titled streaming show.The Don Lemon Show.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the arrest of former CNN anchor Don Lemon in connection with a protest at a Minnesota church
Basic Information Facts
1 What happened with Don Lemon
Don Lemon the former CNN anchor was arrested in Minnesota on June 29 2024 while participating in a protest at a church in Ham Lake
2 Why was he protesting
The protest was at the Church of St Michael in support of a woman Courtney Ross who was banned from the church property Supporters including Lemon were advocating for her reinstatement and raising concerns about the churchs handling of the situation
3 What was he actually charged with
He was charged with misdemeanor trespassing This means he was accused of unlawfully entering or remaining on the churchs property after being told to leave
4 Was he the only one arrested
No Several other individuals were also arrested during the same protest for trespassing
Context Background
5 Was he working for CNN at the time
No Don Lemon was fired from CNN in April 2023 He was participating in the protest as a private citizen and a friend of Courtney Ross
6 Who is Courtney Ross and why was she banned
Courtney Ross is the widow of former Medtronic CEO and billionaire philanthropist Bob McNutt She was banned from the Church of St Michael following a dispute over a 500000 donation and allegations of disruptive behavior The protest centered on her claim that the ban was unjust
7 Where is Ham Lake Minnesota
Ham Lake is a suburb located about 20 miles north of Minneapolis Minnesota
Legal Procedural Questions
8 What happens next legally
As a misdemeanor charge he will likely have a court date Possible outcomes include the charges being dropped a plea deal a fine community service or less commonly a short jail sentence
9 Did he spend time in jail
Reports indicate he was booked into the Anoka County Jail and released a few hours later which is standard procedure for a misdemeanor arrest
10 Could this affect his career or public image
While any arrest can impact a public figures reputation a misdemeanor trespassing charge related to a protest is often viewed differently than a criminal charge involving violence
