Don Lemon's Attorney Condemns Free Speech Assault Following Journalist's Arrest
Veteran journalist Don Lemon's legal representative has launched a fierce condemnation of what he describes as an unprecedented attack on free speech in the United States. This follows the controversial arrest of the former CNN anchor, who was taken into custody by federal agents while covering the Grammy awards in Los Angeles.
Arrest During Church Protest Coverage
The arrest occurred after Lemon entered Cities Church in St Paul, Minnesota, on January 19. He was filming anti-immigrant enforcement demonstrators who disrupted a service at the church. This incident took place amid deadly immigration raids in nearby Minneapolis, and one of the pastors at the church was alleged to be an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official.
Lemon's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, issued a strongly worded statement criticising the Justice Department's priorities. "Instead of investigating the federal agents who killed two peaceful Minnesota protesters, the Trump Justice Department is devoting its time, attention and resources to this arrest, and that is the real indictment of wrongdoing in this case," Lowell declared.
He continued: "This unprecedented attack on the First Amendment and transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration will not stand. Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court."
Journalistic Defence and Official Accusations
Lemon previously defended his actions in a recent video, stating: "Once the protest started in the church, we did an act of journalism, which was report on it." However, US Attorney General Pam Bondi branded the incident a co-ordinated attack on the church, accusing Lemon and other protesters of participation.
The specific charges against Lemon remain unclear, though others involved have been charged with depriving rights and interfering with religious freedom in a house of worship. The White House added to the controversy with an inflammatory social media post featuring Lemon's photo and the caption: "When life gives you lemons." They claimed his arrest was for "involvement in the St Paul Church riots" without providing details.
Media Outcry and Constitutional Concerns
CNN responded to the arrest with a statement expressing profound concern: "The FBI's arrest of our former CNN colleague Don Lemon raises profoundly concerning questions about press freedom and the First Amendment. 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 behaviour involved in their work."
The network emphasised that the First Amendment protects journalists who witness and report on events in the public interest, calling the DOJ's actions unacceptable and vowing to monitor the case closely.
Broader Context of Minnesota Unrest
The arrest occurs against a backdrop of widespread demonstrations in Minnesota and other US cities. These protests erupted after ICE officers shot and killed two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were legally carrying firearms. The deaths have sparked outrage over perceived attacks on Americans' First and Second Amendment rights.
Trump administration officials have faced heavy criticism for labelling Good and Pretti as "domestic terrorists" while providing what many consider flimsy justifications for such escalatory language.
Lemon's Career Background
Don Lemon transitioned to independent journalism after being dismissed from CNN in 2023. His departure followed an apology for comments about then-Republican nominee candidate Nikki Haley, whom he described as being past her prime when she was 51 years old. This latest incident places him at the centre of a significant national debate about press freedoms and governmental overreach.
