Journalist Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal authorities on Thursday night in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy Awards, reports Baltimore Chronicle with reference to CNN. Lemon, a prominent journalist with three decades of experience, had previously attended a demonstration in St. Paul, Minnesota, earlier this month, where dozens of anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protesters entered Cities Church, disrupting a service and triggering tense confrontations.
According to his attorney, Abbe Lowell, “Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents last night in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy Awards. Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done. The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable.”
Lowell added that the Justice Department’s focus on Lemon’s arrest is a “transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration,” criticizing the federal response while noting that two Minnesota protesters were killed during the demonstration. “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 stated.
Lemon has emphasized that he attended the protest strictly in a journalistic capacity and not as a participant. In a video posted on YouTube from the day of the demonstration, he said, “I’m just here photographing, I’m not part of the group… I’m a journalist.” Despite this, senior Justice Department officials announced that Lemon would face charges, citing that he had no right to be on private church property and that interrupting the service may have infringed upon the congregation’s constitutional right to practice their religion.
Attorney General Pam Bondi publicly condemned the protest during a visit to Minneapolis, describing the incident as “horrific” in an interview with Fox News, though she did not specifically mention Lemon.
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