Don Lemon, a former CNN anchor, was arrested by federal authorities on Thursday night in connection with a protest at a Minnesota church service. The protest took place earlier this month, and Lemon was covering the event as an independent journalist. Federal agents took him into custody in Los Angeles, where he was reporting on the Grammy Awards. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the arrest, stating that Lemon was apprehended alongside three others: Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Lydell. The charges against them are related to a coordinated attack on the Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The Justice Department has promised to pursue charges against Lemon, who covered the protest at the church on January 18. His attorney, Abbe Lowell, criticized the Trump Justice Department for focusing on this arrest instead of investigating the federal agents involved in the deaths of two peaceful protesters. Lowell emphasized the attack on the First Amendment and the attempt to distract from other administrative crises.
This arrest is part of a broader immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, where two U.S. citizens have been shot and killed. Three individuals who disrupted the same church service were also arrested. The church's pastor is allegedly associated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which may have influenced the protesters' actions.
The representatives for Lemon and his husband did not provide immediate comments. This incident raises questions about the balance between protest rights and public safety, especially in the context of immigration policies and their enforcement.
