Journalist Don Lemon found himself at the center of a legal storm this week after being arrested by federal agents in Los Angeles.
The arrest stems from his involvement in a protest at a Minnesota church earlier this month, where demonstrators confronted worshippers over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities.
Arrest Follows Grammys Appearance
The former CNN anchor, 59, was taken into federal custody on Friday morning, just a day after attending the Grammy’s Recording Academy Honors awards show in Los Angeles.
Photos from the event captured Lemon alongside rapper Busta Rhymes, highlighting the sharp contrast between his public appearances and the legal drama that awaited him.
The Church Incident That Sparked Outrage
The controversy dates back to January 18 at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Lemon had joined pro-immigration protesters who were targeting the church because one of its pastors, David Easterwood, also served as the local ICE field office director.
During the protest, demonstrators screamed and harassed congregants—a moment that was widely circulated and criticized nationwide.
Legal Charges and FACE Act Allegations
Federal authorities charged Lemon with violating the FACE Act, a law designed to protect individuals’ right to worship without interference.
This move followed earlier attempts to charge eight people involved in the protest, although a magistrate judge had rejected charges against Lemon and allowed evidence against only three others.
Lemon Defends His Actions as Journalism
Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, issued a statement defending his client, framing the protest as part of Lemon’s decades-long work as a journalist.
“Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done,” Lowell said.
He emphasized that the First Amendment protects journalists like Lemon, whose role is to shine a light on controversial issues and hold those in power accountable.
Heated Exchanges During the Protest
Video footage from the church shows Lemon in a tense confrontation with Pastor Easterwood, who criticized his behavior as “shameless.”
Lemon responded by invoking his First Amendment rights, arguing that freedom of speech, assembly, and protest protected his actions.
The encounter underscored the clash between civil protest and religious freedom that has fueled the legal case.
Criticism of Federal Priorities
Lowell also criticized federal authorities for targeting Lemon instead of focusing on other alleged abuses, referencing the deaths of two peaceful protesters in Minnesota.
“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.
The attorney framed the charges as an unprecedented attack on the First Amendment.
Potential Additional Legal Measures
Officials had explored other potential charges, including the Ku Klux Klan Act, which prohibits intimidation that prevents people from exercising their civil rights.
The government’s pursuit of Lemon under these statutes highlights the seriousness with which federal authorities view the church protest incident.
Life After CNN
Lemon’s arrest comes after a period of significant career changes.
He was fired from CNN in April 2023 following a 17-year tenure, after stirring controversy with remarks about women in their 40s during a discussion about Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley.
Since leaving the network, Lemon has launched his own YouTube channel, branding himself as an independent journalist.
He lives in New York with his husband, Tim Malone, a real estate professional whom he married in 2024.
Protesters Target Pastor Easterwood Over ICE Ties
The protest that led to Lemon’s arrest was not random.
Demonstrators singled out Pastor Easterwood for his dual role as a church leader and acting director of the St. Paul ICE office.
During the confrontation, protester Nekima Levy Armstrong—later arrested—told Lemon, “They cannot pretend to be a house of God while harboring someone who is commanding ICE agents to terrorize our communities.”
The statement underscored the political tensions that fueled the demonstration.
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