Former CNN host Don Lemon has been arrested. Police arrested the former news anchor for allegedly being part of an anti-ICE protest that stormed a church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
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The protest disrupted the church service on January 18.
"Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents last night in Los Angeles. Where he was covering the Grammy awards," Lemon's attorney Abbe Lowell said in a statement. The former CNN host also reportedly spent the night in jail.
Authorities have accused Lemon of conspiring to deprive others of their civil rights and also violating the FACE Act. The FACE Act is a federal law prohibiting the obstruction of access to places of worship. However, Lemon's lawyer argues his client was acting as a journalist covering the event, which is a "constitutionally protected work."
Don Lemon Arrested
"The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth. And hold those in power accountable," said Lowell. "Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court."
Attorney General Pam Bondi also confirmed that she approved the arrest of Lemon and three others involved in the event. She said, "At my direction, early this morning federal agents arrested Don Lemon, Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Lydell Lundy, in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota."
Lemon's former employer, CNN, also supported the reporter after the arrest. They released a statement calling the arrest unjustified and unacceptable.
"The Department of Justice already failed twice to get an arrest warrant for Don and several other journalists in Minnesota. Where a chief judge of the Minnesota Federal District Court found there was 'no evidence' that there was any criminal behavior involved in their work," CNN also said in a
