Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested Thursday night in Los Angeles by federal authorities, a stunning development that immediately set off a political firestorm and renewed debate over the limits of journalism, protest, and the First Amendment.
According to a statement from Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, the arrest occurred while Lemon was in Los Angeles covering events tied to the Grammy Awards. Federal authorities allegedly took him into custody over his involvement in an anti-ICE protest that took place earlier this month at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Lowell framed the arrest as a direct assault on press freedom, arguing that Lemon was acting squarely within the bounds of protected journalism. He emphasized Lemon’s decades-long career in media, claiming his conduct in Minneapolis mirrored the reporting he has done for 30 years. Lowell said the First Amendment exists precisely to shield journalists who scrutinize power and bring public attention to controversial government actions.
The protest at the center of the case occurred on January 18 and was organized by the Racial Justice Network and Black Lives Matter Minnesota. Demonstrators targeted Cities Church after allegations surfaced that one of its pastors had cooperated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Protesters reportedly entered the church during a worship service, disrupting proceedings in what organizers openly described as a covert operation designed to interfere with normal activity.
Lemon was present during the protest and spoke with organizers, including activist Nekima Levy-Armstrong, who told him the demonstration was intentionally clandestine and meant to disrupt what she called “business as usual.” The protest came amid heightened unrest in the Twin Cities following the killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent earlier in January, an incident that sparked days of demonstrations.
🚨 IT’S HAPPENING: Don Lemon has reportedly been arrested by federal agents in Los Angeles over his alleged role in the Minnesota church incident involving anti-ICE agitators.
Leftist judges tried to shield him. It didn’t work.
Justice is catching up. pic.twitter.com/bq3DFsi0gk
— Charlie’s Voice Rising (@CharlieK_news) January 30, 2026
Federal officials, however, have rejected the argument that Lemon’s presence and actions were protected by the First Amendment. President Donald Trump weighed in forcefully, saying the “troublemakers” responsible for the church protest should be jailed. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said Lemon was not beyond legal reach and vowed that the Justice Department would aggressively pursue the case.
Earlier this month, a federal appeals court found probable cause to charge Lemon. The Justice Department is reportedly considering charges under the FACE Act, a federal law that prohibits interference with religious worship services. The statute has previously been used in high-profile cases involving protesters who disrupted church activities, including during the Biden administration.
Lowell, who is also known for defending Hunter Biden, accused the Trump Justice Department of political retaliation. He argued that federal authorities were ignoring alleged misconduct by government agents while focusing resources on prosecuting a journalist, calling the arrest an unprecedented attack on constitutional protections.
Lemon himself has claimed that the administration is determined to prosecute him regardless of legal boundaries. In a recent interview with former CNN colleague Alisyn Camerota, Lemon suggested officials would manipulate or stretch the law to ensure his imprisonment, saying they would simply keep trying until something stuck.
The investigation has already led to multiple arrests. Three organizers connected to the church protest, including Levy-Armstrong, have been taken into custody by the FBI. William Kelly, a well-known professional protester who has demonstrated outside the church attended by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, was also among those who entered the sanctuary during the service.
The Justice Department is expected to address Lemon’s arrest in a press conference scheduled for later Friday, a moment likely to intensify an already volatile national debate over protest, press freedom, and the rule of law.
