Former CNN anchor Don Lemon arrested in Los Angeles, attorney says federal action is unjust
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested by federal authorities on late Thursday night, January 29, in Los Angeles, according to his attorney. Lemon, 59, was taken into custody by federal agents while in the city covering the Grammy Awards.
The specific charges against him are not yet clear. His arrest follows ongoing legal concerning of an anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protest at a Minnesota church earlier this month.
Federal arrest follows Minnesota church protest
Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, confirmed the arrest in a statement, noting that his client was detained by federal agents on Thursday night. Lemon, who is now an independent journalist, was reporting from Los Angeles at the time of his arrest. Multiple sources have verified that agents from the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations were involved, and that a grand jury had been empaneled earlier in the day.
The Justice Department had previously indicated its intention to pursue charges against Lemon following his coverage of a protest that took place on January 18 inside Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Demonstrators gathered during Sunday services after discovering that a pastor at the church allegedly worked for ICE. Lemon was one among several journalists present at the protest and live-streamed the events for nearly seven hours on his YouTube channel, interviewing church members, protesters and clergy.
Last week, a federal magistrate judge refused to approve arrest warrants for five individuals linked to the protest, including Lemon. The judge stated that there was no evidence indicating that Lemon or his producer had committed a crime. Subsequently, a federal appellate court declined to compel the lower court to issue the warrants. However, one judge noted that there was probable cause to justify the arrests, according to court filings.
Lowell strongly condemned the arrest, stating, “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.” He 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.”
Lowell added, “Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done.”
Activists released as scrutiny grows over protest prosecutions
The arrest of Lemon coincides with other legal developments related to the same Minnesota protest. Nekima Levy Armstrong and Chauntyll Allen, who were arrested and charged for their participation in the anti-ICE demonstration, were released from custody.
Video posted online showed the two women leaving detention, raising their fists and embracing supporters. “Thank you all for being here,” Levy Armstrong said. “Glory to God!”
A federal judge ordered their release earlier in the day, ruling that the government had failed “to meet its burden to demonstrate that a detention hearing is warranted, or that detention is otherwise appropriate.” A third activist, William Kelly, was also ordered released after a judge determined he was not a danger to the public.
