(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump’s administration sought to make an example of independent journalist Don Lemon by arresting him Thursday, 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.”
The Department of Homeland Security told NewsNation that Lemon is being charged with 18 USC 241, Conspiracy to Deprive Rights, and 18 USC 248, Violation of the FACE, which concerns interfering with someone’s First Amendment rights by force.
Abbe Lowell, Lemon’s attorney, announced the arrest Friday 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.
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.”
Lemon’s attorney called the arrest an “unprecedented attack on the First Amendment” and a “distraction” from other crises facing the administration.
“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 a statement.
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.
The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.
