Veteran journalist Don Lemon was arrested Thursday night in Los Angeles, multiple sources confirm, marking a dramatic turn in his career after decades in the newsroom. Lemon, who had been in L.A. covering this weekend’s Grammy Awards, was taken into federal custody, according to his attorney.
The arrest comes just two weeks after Lemon participated in a high-profile anti-immigration protest in St. Paul, Minnesota, which disrupted a church service at Cities Church. Reports indicate demonstrators entered the church after learning that one of its pastors also served as an ICE official.
Authorities say a grand jury was convened Thursday, with both the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) involved. As of now, the specific charges Lemon may face remain unclear.
Attorney Speaks Out
Lemon’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, issued a strong statement defending his client, framing the arrest as an attack on press freedom.
“Don has been a journalist for 30 years,” Lowell said. “His constitutionally protected reporting in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done. The First Amendment exists to protect journalists who shine a light on the truth and hold those in power accountable.”
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