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Federal Agents Arrest Journalist Don Lemon Following Minnesota Protest Coverage
Federal agents took independent journalist and former CNN anchor Don Lemon into custody in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy awards, according to a statement from his attorney Abbe Lowell.
The arrest appears connected to Lemon’s reporting on protests in Minneapolis-St. Paul, where tensions have escalated following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens—Renee Good and Alex Pretti—by federal immigration officers in January 2026.
“Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done,” Lowell said in the statement, which Lemon shared across his official social media accounts including Bluesky, Threads, Facebook, and TikTok.
The attorney criticized the Justice Department’s priorities, stating, “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.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed Lemon’s arrest in a January 30 post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Bondi also announced the arrests of independent journalist Georgia Fort and activists Trahern Crews and Jamael Lundy in connection with the same incident.
The arrests follow protests at Cities Church in St. Paul on January 18, where demonstrators disrupted a Sunday service to protest the pastor’s leadership role in the local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office. Lemon was reportedly covering these demonstrations as a journalist.
This marks the second time the current administration has targeted Lemon for his reporting on these protests. According to Lowell, a federal judge previously rejected prosecutors’ initial attempt to charge Lemon over his coverage of the demonstration.
Lowell framed the arrest as “an unprecedented attack on the First Amendment” and a “transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration.” The statement concluded with a commitment that “Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court.”
The case highlights growing tensions between federal immigration enforcement actions and local communities in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region. The fatal shootings of Good and Pretti during separate encounters with federal officers intensified opposition to the increased presence of federal immigration agents in the area.
The arrest of a high-profile journalist like Lemon, who left CNN to pursue independent reporting, raises significant questions about press freedom and the constitutional protections afforded to journalists covering controversial topics.
Media advocacy organizations have yet to issue formal statements on Lemon’s arrest, but the case is likely to draw attention to broader concerns about government treatment of journalists reporting on immigration enforcement actions and public protests.
The situation continues to develop as Lemon’s legal team prepares to challenge the charges in court, with First Amendment implications that could extend beyond this specific case to influence journalist protections nationwide.
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11 Comments
As a longtime viewer of Don Lemon’s reporting, I’m troubled by this news. Journalists must be able to cover protests and other newsworthy events without fear of arrest or retaliation. I hope this is resolved quickly and transparently.
Well said. The arrest of a respected journalist like Lemon raises serious red flags about the state of press freedom in this country. Authorities need to provide a clear and justified explanation for this action.
Troubling news about the arrest of journalist Don Lemon. It’s concerning to see the Justice Department apparently targeting reporters covering protests. We need transparency and accountability around these types of incidents.
I agree, the reported arrest of Lemon raises serious questions about press freedom and the government’s priorities. Journalists should be able to cover important events without fear of retaliation.
This arrest of Don Lemon is very concerning. The government should be protecting press freedoms, not targeting reporters. I hope the facts come out soon and that Lemon is released without further incident.
This news about Don Lemon’s arrest is deeply concerning. Journalists must be able to report on protests and other newsworthy events without fear of retaliation from the government. I hope the facts come out soon and that Lemon is released without further incident.
I’m puzzled and concerned by the reported arrest of Don Lemon. As a journalist, he should be able to cover important stories without facing retaliation from the government. I hope this is resolved quickly and transparently.
I agree, the arrest of a veteran journalist like Lemon is highly troubling. It’s critical that the media can do their jobs freely, even when covering sensitive or controversial topics. This needs to be addressed urgently.
This seems like a concerning overreach by federal authorities. Journalists play a vital role in holding the government accountable, and they must be able to report on protests and other newsworthy events without fear of arrest. I hope Lemon is released and this is properly investigated.
If the details are accurate, this seems like an overreach by federal authorities. Reporters must be able to do their jobs, even when covering sensitive or controversial topics. I hope Lemon is released quickly and this is properly investigated.
Absolutely. The Justice Department should be focused on investigating the fatal shootings of the two protesters, not harassing journalists like Don Lemon who were just doing their jobs.