Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was taken into custody last night, as confirmed by multiple sources familiar with the situation to CBS News. Lemon’s arrest came shortly after a grand jury was convened and involved federal agents from the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The specific charges against Lemon remain unclear at this time. His attorney, Abbe Lowell, acknowledged the arrest while asserting Lemon’s dedication to journalism over the past three decades. “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 stated. He emphasized the critical role of the First Amendment in safeguarding journalists’ rights to uncover the truth and hold authorities accountable, especially in the current climate.
Furthermore, Lowell criticized the Justice Department for targeting Lemon rather than investigating federal agents involved in the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota earlier this month, labeling this focus as “the real indictment of wrongdoing in this case.” He vehemently condemned what he termed an “unprecedented attack on the First Amendment,” indicating that Lemon would robustly contest the charges in court.
In related developments, a federal appellate court recently declined a request to compel a lower court judge to issue arrest warrants for Lemon and four others in connection with an anti-ICE protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota. The protest arose after demonstrators realized that an ICE official was reportedly one of the pastors. One judge on the appellate panel believed there was sufficient probable cause for the arrests, as noted in court documents.
The Justice Department previously sought the appellate court’s intervention to obtain arrest warrants, alleging that the defendants had infringed upon the constitutional rights of churchgoers by unlawfully interfering with their freedom to practice religion. As events unfold, this situation raises pressing questions about the intersection of journalism, civil rights, and government accountability.
The story reflects the ongoing tensions between law enforcement actions, civil rights, and the responsibilities of the media, underscoring the critical role that journalists play in society, especially during challenging times.