Don Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles on Thursday, Jan. 29, in connection with his alleged role in a church protest in St. Paul, Minn.
The independent journalist was taken into custody around 11 p.m. local time at a Beverly Hills hotel, according to a source close to the investigation. More than two dozen agents from the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) participated in the arrest, as the two agencies lead the investigation.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said Friday that Lemon is being charged under federal statutes including 18 USC 241 (Conspiracy to Deprive Rights) and 18 USC 248 (Violation of the FACE Act), alleging interference “by force” with someone’s First Amendment rights.
The FACE Act is a federal law intended to protect people’s ability to participate in services at houses of worship. Lemon has disputed the allegations, insisting he was acting as a journalist when he recorded himself and other demonstrators interrupting a Jan. 18 religious service to protest immigration enforcement.
Lemon addressed the incident in a Jan. 21 video, saying, “Once the protest started in the church, we did an act of journalism, which was report on it and talk to the people involved, including the pastor, members of the church and members of the organization. That’s it. That’s called journalism.”
After his arrest, his attorney, Abbe Lowell, repeated that position in a statement posted to Instagram. “Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done,” the statement said.
“The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable,” the statement continued. “There is no more important time for people like Don to be doing this work.”
Trump’s attorney general, Pam Bondi, confirmed Lemon’s arrest — along with three others — in a video message posted to social media Friday. “Make no mistake: Under President Trump’s leadership, and this administration, you have the right to worship freely and safely,” Bondi said. “And if I haven’t been clear already, if you violate that sacred right? We are coming after you.”
Tensions in Minnesota have remained high in recent weeks following the shooting deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents.
In his statement, Lowell criticized the focus of the case, arguing that federal resources should be directed elsewhere. “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 said.
Lemon is scheduled to appear before a judge at 1:30 p.m. local time in Los Angeles on Friday.
