Don Lemon Arrested After Church Protest Incident

A left-leaning independent journalist and former CNN anchor, Don Lemon, was reportedly taken into custody by federal agents in Los Angeles after his involvement in a protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, according to information from his lawyer.

“Don Lemon was arrested by federal agents in Los Angeles last night while he was at the Grammy Awards. He has been in journalism for 30 years, and his work in Minneapolis was consistent with his past reporting,” stated Lemon’s attorney, Abby Rowell.

Rowell has represented various clients, including notable figures like Hunter Biden and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

While federal authorities initially provided few details about the charges against Lemon, they later confirmed that he faces two counts: conspiracy against rights and violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE).

These charges are linked to a protest Lemon attended on January 18 at Cities Church, characterized by investigators as a “coordinated attack” on the place of worship. Lemon insists he was acting purely as a journalist, but prosecutors claim he played an “integrated part” in a conspiracy to obstruct the congregation’s right to religious practice.

The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice have arrested several individuals involved in the demonstration, including anti-ICE activists, who face similar charges under a federal conspiracy statute. This law forbids collusion to intimidate people exercising their constitutional rights, especially regarding religious worship.

In addition to these arrests, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon revealed that the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division was informed of Lemon’s participation.

While Lemon maintains that his intention was solely to report on the incident, Dhillon contends that being a journalist does not protect someone engaged in a criminal conspiracy.

An alarming turn occurred on Friday morning when Lemon was apprehended in Los Angeles, which correlates with a viral video showing him confronting a pastor during a church service—a situation that drew public criticism from former President Donald Trump.

“I saw the way he entered that church, and it was terrible,” Trump commented. “I respect that pastor greatly. He was kind and gentle. What happened there was wrong.”

There are suggestions that Lemon might have had prior knowledge of a “plan” to disrupt the church service and livestreamed the event for views. However, he insists he wasn’t part of the protests but was there to document them. Still, he seemed to signal to his audience that something noteworthy was about to unfold.

“The First Amendment protects journalists, ensuring they can uncover the truth and hold powerful individuals accountable,” Lowell remarked.

“Instead of focusing on the federal agents who harmed two peaceful protesters, the Trump Justice Department is spending resources on this arrest, which highlights a significant wrongdoing,” Rowell added, indicating Lemon’s intent to contest the charges in court.