(NewsNation) — Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested Thursday and released without bond after reporting on the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota earlier this month.
Abbe Lowell, Lemon’s attorney, announced the arrest in a statement posted to Lemon’s social media, writing that he was taken into custody by federal agents while covering the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
Prosecutors sought pretrial supervision, travel restrictions except to Minnesota, New York and Washington, D.C., surrender of Lemon’s passport and a $100,000 bond.
Defense attorneys argued Lemon, a journalist for more than 30 years with no criminal record, is not a flight risk and requires travel for his work.
Judge Patricia Donahue ordered Lemon released on personal recognizance without pretrial supervision. He may travel to France later this summer if it does not conflict with court proceedings and must seek permission for other international travel.
Lemon is barred from contacting any victims, witnesses or co-conspirators. His next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 9 in Minnesota.
Don Lemon: ‘I look forward to my day in court’
Lemon thanked supporters for their backing and said he remains committed to journalism despite his arrest. Lemon said he does not yet know the details of the case against him but that he has spent his entire career covering the news and will not stop.
“Last night, the DOJ sent a team of federal agents to arrest me in the middle of the night, for something that I’ve been doing for the last 30 years, and that is covering the news. The First Amendment of the Constitution protects that work for me and for countless of other journalists who do what I do. I stand with all of them, and I will not be silenced. I look forward to my day in court”, he said.
Why was Don Lemon arrested?
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the arrest in a post on X Friday morning, writing, “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 added that more details would become available soon.
The Department of Homeland Security tells NewsNation that Lemon is being charged with 18 USC 241, Conspiracy to Deprive Rights, and 18 USC 248, Violation of the FACE, interfering by force of someone’s First Amendment rights.
“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,” Lemon’s attorney wrote in the statement. “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.”
‘Have to make him an example’: Trump insider on Lemon arrest
Trump’s administration sought to make an example of Lemon by arresting him, two sources within the White House told NewsNation.
“Don Lemon violated the law,” a Trump insider said. “We have to make him an example not to go into our churches.”
A second source close to the White House added it’s a win for U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who’s been under fire over the Department of Justice’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Lemon’s arrest happened Thursday ahead of the DOJ releasing 3.5 million Epstein files on Friday after a months-long delay.
“The base has been upset with Pam (Bondi), and the arrest of Lemon gave them what they wanted, and they are celebrating her success,” the source close to the White House said.
The insider said it signals a shift from how things were done the first time Trump was in the White House.
“In Trump 1.0, they (the administration members) pushed back at Trump. They went to the media and leaked things,” the insider stated. “In Trump 2.0, they’re trying to get an ‘atta-boy.’ It’s about a win with the president. It’s not a policy win. They want a star from the president next to their name. It’s not about governance.”
Last week, a magistrate judge dismissed prosecutors’ initial bid to charge the veteran journalist. The DOJ pushed forward with his arrest.
Victims’ rights attorney Lisa Bloom — who isn’t involved in the case — told NewsNation she doesn’t expect the charges to stick.
“Arresting a journalist after judges refused to endorse it? And they wonder why we accuse them of fascism. The First Amendment strongly protects the right of journalists like Don Lemon to observe and report on newsworthy events. I expect charges to be thrown out early,” she said.
What sparked the DOJ investigation?
Lemon came under scrutiny from the Trump administration following a demonstration inside a St. Paul, Minnesota, church where protesters had disrupted worship services led by a pastor who also heads the local Immigration and Customs Enforcement office.
Video from Black Lives Matter Minnesota showed more than a dozen demonstrators entering a Sunday service at Cities Church, chanting “Justice for Renee Good,” “ICE out,” and “Hands up, don’t shoot.” Attorney General Pam Bondi said the Justice Department was investigating the disruption and warned it would use the full power of the law.
Don Lemon says he was reporting on Minnesota church protest
Lemon defended his actions as protected First Amendment journalism in a video responding to the criticism.
“The MAGA administration and the fake news MAGAs are losing their mind over something that’s not even true,” he said. “We were there chronicling protests. Once the protest started in the church, we did an act of journalism, which was report on it and talk to the people who were involved, which included the pastor, members of the church and members of the organization. That’s it. It’s called journalism, the First Amendment.”
Who is Georgia Fort?
Like Lemon, Georgia Fort, an independent journalist based in Minneapolis, was arrested in relation to the protests at the church. Fort posted a video to Facebook Friday morning, telling followers agents were at the door to her home with a warrant for her arrest.
“I’ve talked to my attorney and I’m being advised to go with them. I guess down to Whipple,” Fort said. “And my children are here; they are impacted by this. This is all stemming from the fact that I filmed a protest as a member of the media.”
Fort told followers that she feels that she does not have her first amendment right as a member of the press.
“Right now, you guys, I wanted you to know, I’m going to have to hop off here and surrender to agents. As a member of the press, I filmed the church protest a few weeks ago, and now I’m being arrested for that.”
NewsNation’s Diana Falzone contributed to this report.
