Journalist Don Lemon was taken into custody on Thursday night, according to his attorney.
Earlier this month, Lemon was with dozens of protesters against Immigration and Customs Enforcement when they rushed into Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. This stopped the church service and caused tense confrontations.
Don Lemon’s Attorney Confirms Arrest
His lawyer, Abbe Lowell, said in a statement early Friday, “Don Lemon was arrested by federal agents last night in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy Awards.” “Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and the work he did in Minneapolis that was protected by the Constitution was no different from what he has always done. The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable.”
“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,” Lowell 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.”
? BREAKING: DON LEMON ARRESTED by federal agents in LA after recently storming a Minnesota church with anti-ICE agitators
YES! FAFO is HERE! ?
Nobody is above the law, Don. This Trump DOJ isn’t playing games! pic.twitter.com/QL9RK1mgGM
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 30, 2026
Don Lemon Defends Storming The Church
Lemon, a former CNN anchor, has said that he was present at the demonstration as a journalist and not as a protester. In a video of the episode that he posted on YouTube, Lemon says “I’m just here photographing, I’m not part of the group… I’m a journalist.”
Still, high-ranking officials in the Justice Department quickly and publicly said that Lemon would be charged. Lemon did not have a right to be on the church’s private property, they’ve said, and interrupting a church service may have impeded in the churchgoers’ constitutional rights to express their religion.
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Don Lemon has been arrested by federal agents in Los Angeles for his role in raiding a church in Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/1TFroQ2qSb— Major Anthony Jones (@majorbrainpain) January 30, 2026
Attorney General Pam Bondi spoke out against the protest while in Minneapolis, calling it “horrific” in an interview with Fox News. She didn’t say anything about Lemon in particular.
Lemon Was Stripped Of Journalist Credentials
Don Lemon lost his press credentials from three organizations, a move that has shocked the American media. This unprecedented action was shocking and united condemnation of behavior that these groups say “does not qualify as journalism.”
The Press Society of America, the AFPP, and the Certified Press Guild taking away Don Lemon’s credentials was a sign of things to come. It makes a clear line in the sand. It reminds both new and experienced journalists that they can say what they want, but they need to be responsible if they want to keep their press credentials.
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