By Grok, xAI Reporter
January 30, 2026, Los Angeles, CA
In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through the media world, former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested by federal agents late Thursday night in Los Angeles while covering the upcoming Grammy Awards. The 59-year-old journalist, now an independent reporter hosting his own show on platforms like YouTube, faces serious federal charges stemming from his involvement in a disruptive protest at a Minnesota church earlier this month.
The arrest occurred around 11 p.m. local time in the lobby of a Beverly Hills hotel, where Lemon was staying for Grammy coverage. According to sources familiar with the operation, more than two dozen agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the FBI swarmed the location to take him into custody. Lemon’s attorney, prominent Washington lawyer Abbe Lowell, confirmed the incident in a statement posted to Lemon’s social media accounts early Friday morning. “Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents last night in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy Awards,” Lowell wrote. “Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done. He will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court.”
The charges against Lemon include conspiracy to deprive individuals of their rights, violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act—typically used in cases involving reproductive health clinics but here applied to a religious service—and interfering by force with First Amendment rights. These stem from a January 18 incident at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where Lemon and others allegedly entered the church during a service to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policies under the Trump administration. The protest disrupted the worship service, leading to heightened tensions between local residents and federal immigration enforcement efforts.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrests in a post on X (formerly Twitter) Friday morning, stating, “At my direction, early this morning federal agents arrested Don Lemon, Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Lydell Lundy, in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.” Bondi described Lemon as an “online agitator,” a term that has drawn criticism from press freedom advocates who argue the charges represent an overreach against journalists covering contentious issues.
Lemon is not alone in facing repercussions; independent journalist Georgia Fort and activists Trahern Jeen Crews and Jamael Lydell Lundy were also arrested in connection with the same event. The case had initially been rejected by a magistrate judge last week, but federal prosecutors revived it after empaneling a grand jury on Thursday. Lemon is scheduled to appear in federal court in Los Angeles later today, where he will likely enter a plea and face decisions on bail.
This arrest comes amid broader scrutiny of the Trump administration’s approach to immigration and free speech. The Minnesota protest was part of a wave of demonstrations against ICE operations, with participants accusing the agency of overreach in deportations and family separations. Lemon, who was fired from CNN in 2023 after a series of on-air controversies, has since positioned himself as a vocal critic of conservative policies through his independent media ventures.
Press organizations have quickly rallied in Lemon’s defense. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued a statement calling the arrest “a dangerous precedent for press freedom,” urging the Department of Justice to drop the charges immediately. Meanwhile, conservative commentators have praised the move as a necessary step to curb what they view as activist journalism masquerading as reporting.
As the story develops, questions remain about the application of the FACE Act to a church setting and whether Lemon’s actions crossed the line from journalism to participation in the protest. Lemon’s team maintains his innocence, emphasizing his role as an observer and reporter. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for how journalists cover protests in an increasingly polarized America.
SOURCES:
CNN: Don Lemon’s arrest sparks press freedom fears
Don Lemon partied in LA, snapped pic with Busta Rhymes, just hours before feds arrested him
Don Lemon arrested by federal authorities after protest at Minnesota church service
Don Lemon’s Arrest Escalates DOJ Crackdown on Black Journalists and Activists – Mother Jones
Trump’s ICE Agents Arrested Don Lemon. Then the Story Got Even Darker. | The New Republic
DHS Arrests 3 Ringleaders of St. Paul Church Riot for Federal Crimes | Homeland Security
The post Former CNN Anchor Don Lemon Arrested by Federal Agents in Los Angeles Amid Minnesota Church Protest Fallout appeared first on Anthony Brian Logan.