Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested by federal agents in Los Angeles and spent the night behind bars after allegedly taking part in a controversial anti-ICE church protest tied to events in Minnesota.
Lemon, who was fired from CNN in 2023, is scheduled to appear in court today following his arrest, according to his attorney, Abbe Lowell.
Lowell said Lemon was taken into custody late Sunday night while he was in Los Angeles covering the Grammy Awards. He confirmed Lemon was part of a group that stormed a church but insisted the former anchor was acting in his role as a journalist.
“Don Lemon was doing constitutionally protected work,” Lowell said, arguing that his client was documenting the protest, not participating in it.
Federal authorities, however, appear to disagree.
Lemon is accused of violating the Enforcement Act of 1871 — also known as the Ku Klux Klan Act — a sweeping civil rights law originally designed to combat organized intimidation and interference with constitutional rights. Prosecutors claim Lemon’s actions crossed the line from journalism into criminal conspiracy by interfering with the right to freely practice religion.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon pushed back on Lemon’s defense, stating that the law can be applied whenever individuals conspire to violate protected civil rights.
“Whenever anyone conspires to violate the civil rights of American citizens, the Klan Act can be used,” she said.
While Lemon claimed he was merely “chronicling” the incident, videos he shared during and after the protest reportedly show him actively moving with the group as the church was stormed.
In footage recorded before entering the building, Lemon admitted he had conducted “reconnaissance” with activists ahead of the protest.
“They’re planning an operation we’re going to follow them on,” Lemon said in the video. “It’s called Operation Pull-Up. These are surprise operations.”
Federal officials say that admission — along with the footage — undermines his claim of journalistic neutrality.
The arrest marks another stunning fall for Lemon, who was dismissed from CNN after 17 years amid reports of behavioral issues, sinking ratings, and controversial remarks about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley.
Lemon has vowed to fight the charges, with his attorney insisting the case represents a dangerous attack on press freedom. Whether a judge agrees — or sees Lemon as an activist rather than a reporter — could determine his legal future.
Good. When do the rest of them get arrested? Blatant violations of the freedom of religion! You want to demonstrate? Do it outside outside of earshot of the services! Oh, probably too cold outside, but you have that right to demonstrate. Just not in or near the houses of worship! All of this because 1o’s of millions of illegals were let in AGAINST IMMIGRATION LAWS and financed ILLEGALLY! See Welfare Reform Act of 1996 and all associated laws concerning immigration!!! Oh, and by the way, signed into law by Bill Clinton!!!
Couldn’t have boiled this whole tragedy down and articulated better myself, Anonymous! It’s time for accountability with these agitators while ICE is doing their job trying to get rid of the illegals that Biden allowed in. Bottom line— Ice wouldn’t have to be in Minnesota if Biden would have kept the illegals out in the first place.
Put him in solitary and feed him bread and water diet!
Something I’ve noticed is that it is a high percentage of Queers, Homosexuals and mentally ill folk who are participating in this rebellion. I think that we should dedicate an Island to them and ship them all there to run it the way they want, and see how that works out for them .
put him away for life
Well they made the arrest. Now will they prosecute him or just give him a slap on the wrist? Show us that justice is a real thing, and not just a political front to make it look like the DOJ is really for the people.
I rewatched his interview with the pastor in which Lemon asked, “you want us to leave?” I hope that the DOJ uses that line in court: “you want ‘US’ to leave?” He wasn’t reporting the mob; he WAS the mob.