Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested Thursday night in Los Angeles while covering the Grammy Awards, according to multiple reports. The arrest comes two weeks after he attended an anti-immigration protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where demonstrators opposed a pastor who was also an ICE official.
Authorities say a grand jury was convened, with the FBI and Homeland Security involved, though specific charges have not been disclosed. Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, confirmed the arrest and criticized the Justice Department, calling it an attack on press freedom.
Lowell said Lemon was acting as a journalist and accused federal authorities of targeting him instead of investigating the deaths of two protesters, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. He called the arrest a violation of the First Amendment and said Lemon will fight the charges.
Court records show a judge recently found probable cause related to the protest. Lemon, who has worked independently since leaving CNN in 2023, said he went to Minneapolis to report because he believes in protecting the Constitution and press freedom.