Don Lemon was \u201ctaken into custody by federal agents\u201d on Thursday evening, according to his lawyer.<\/p>\n
The former CNN anchor<\/a> has been charged with violating a federal law by allegedly impeding individuals\u2019 right to worship<\/a> during the anti-ICE protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minn., on Jan. 18, the New York Times reported<\/a> Friday.<\/p>\n The 59-year-old was handcuffed in Los Angeles after attending the 2026 Recording Academy Honors.<\/p>\n Don Lemon (pictured above in December 2025) was arrested by federal agents Thursday.<\/p>\n The 59-year-old was taken into custody in Los Angeles over a Jan. 18 anti-ICE protest. Don Lemon \/ YouTube<\/p>\n Lemon, notably, is in California covering this weekend\u2019s Grammys.<\/p>\n His lawyer, Abbe Lowell, promised in a statement via Instagram<\/a> that \u201cDon will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court.\u201d<\/p>\n He claimed, \u201cDon has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than 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.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cInstead of investigating the federal agents<\/a> who killed two peaceful Minnesota protesters<\/a>, [Renee Good<\/a> and Alex Pretti<\/a>], the Trump Justice Department is devoting its time, attention and resources to this case,\u201d the statement continued.<\/p>\n The journalist was taken into custody in Los Angeles on Thursday where he is covering this weekend\u2019s Grammys. Instagram\/Don Lemon<\/p>\n Lemon\u2019s lawyer called the arrest over Jan. 18 an \u201cunprecedented attack\u201d on the First Amendment. Don Lemon \/ YouTube<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tWant more celebrity and pop culture news?\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with Page Six Daily.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Lowell referred to his client\u2019s arrest as an \u201cattempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration\u201d \u2014 and an \u201cunprecedented attack on the First Amendment.\u201d<\/p>\n The government, notably, sought to charge eight people in connection with the church protest, which included 30 to 40 people seeking to confront pastor David Easterwood, who is the director for St. Paul\u2019s ICE field office.<\/p>\n Lemon posted a video from the protest at the time, saying, \u201cI\u2019m sure people here don\u2019t like it, but protests are not comfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n That night, Attorney General Pam Bondi tweeted, \u201cIf state leaders refuse to act responsibly to prevent lawlessness, this Department of Justice will remain mobilized to prosecute federal crimes and ensure that the rule of law prevails.\u201d<\/p>\n The lawyer noted that Lemon (pictured above in December 2025) \u201chas been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done.\u201d Getty Images<\/p>\n On Jan. 18, 30 to 40 individuals protested at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minn. Don Lemon \/ YouTube<\/p>\n Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, for his part, told Lemon he was \u201con notice,\u201d<\/a> claiming on social media that \u201ca house of worship is not a public forum for your protest.\u201d<\/p>\n Last week, a magistrate judge approved charges against three individuals<\/a> \u2014 not Lemon \u2014 and those people were arrested<\/a> as of Jan. 22.<\/p>\n A federal appeals court subsequently denied the Justice Department\u2019s right to issue the other five warrants.<\/p>\n Lemon\u2019s lawyer wrote in a statement that the \u201cmagistrate\u2019s reported actions confirm the nature of Don\u2019s First Amendment protected work this weekend in Minnesota as a reporter.\u201d<\/p>\n Last week, a magistrate judge approved charges against three protestors \u2014 but not Lemon (pictured above in December 2021). Evan Agostini\/Invision\/AP<\/p>\n Lemon has yet to speak out. FOX News<\/p>\n Lemon himself pointed out to Fox News Digital that he\u2019d been \u201ccast as the face of a protest\u201d despite not being \u201cthe only reporter there.\u201d<\/p>\n Amid a \u201cbarrage of violent threats, along with homophobic and racist slurs,\u201d he insisted, \u201cI stand by my reporting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis much time and energy \u2026 would be far better used investigating the tragic\u00a0death of Renee Nicole Good\u00a0\u2014 the very issue that brought people into the streets in the first place,\u201d Lemon, who was ousted from CNN over a sexism scandal<\/a> in 2023, concluded.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t