Kamal Ghorui
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon has been arrested by federal agents in connection with his presence at a Minnesota church protest, his lawyer Abbe Lowell confirmed. Lemon’s lawyer said the independent journalist was taken into custody on Thursday night in Los Angeles. “Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents last night in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy Awards,” Abbe Lowell announced. “Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done.”“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 said. The former journalist is facing conspiracy against rights charges and violation of the FACE Act.“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,” the lawyer said.
Why Don Lemon has been arrested: Here’s what happened in Minnesota
Amid the ongoing ICE crackdown in Minnesota, a group of protesters entered Cities Church in St Paul during a Sunday prayer session, claiming that the pastor was helping ICE. This took place on January 18, days after Renee Good was shot dead by ICE agent Jonathan Ross. Don Lemon was present at the church when the protest took place. He livestreamed the protest, interviewing the protesters as the Sunday service was disrupted for about 20 minutes during the confrontation. DOJ accused Lemon of being in cahoots with the protesters. The journalist denied it and said he was not the only one present inside the church at that time. There were others but he was being targeted.Federal prosecutors sought to bring charges against Don Lemon but a federal magistrate judge refused to sign, saying that the government failed to show a cause. Then the Justice Department attempted to compel a lower court to issue arrest warrants for Lemon and others, but an appeals court rejected that request, upholding the magistrate’s decision.
