Former NCS host Don Lemon was scheduled to cover the 2026 Grammy Awards’ pink carpet earlier than his arrest. The journalist was arrested in reference to a protest in Minnesota
Don Lemon was scheduled to cover the Grammys earlier than his arrest(Image: Variety through Getty Images)
Don Lemon was set to cover the 2026 Grammy Awards earlier than his arrest.
The former NCS anchor had confirmed on social media on Thursday, January 29, that he can be interviewing dwell from the music awards’ pink carpet on Sunday, February 1. In the submit, Lemon additionally thanked the Recording Academy for having him and his followers for his or her assist. On the similar day, he was “taken into custody” by federal agents which his legal professional, Abbe Lowell, shared in a statement. The assertion additionally established that he was arrested “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 mentioned in the assertion.
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The legal professional went out to name out the Department of Justice for not “investigating the federal agents who killed” Renee Good and Alex Pretti as a substitute, however are “devoting its time, attention and resources to this case.”
“This unprecedented attack on the First Amendment and transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration will not stand,” Lowell concluded. “Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court.
Lemon was arrested following his coverage of an anti-ICE protest in Minneapolis on January 18. The protest involved demonstrators interrupting a church service as they believed that one of the pastors was an ICE official. The 59-year-old journalist had covered and livestreamed the protest at the time.
The protest drew outrage from MAGA and members were calling for Lemon to be arrested and investigated by the DOJ and FBI, claiming his actions were a violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.
The FACE Act is a 1994 law that bans the use or threat of force as well as the physical obstruction that causes harm or impends with a person looking for or providing reproductive health services or exercising their First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship.
Others have argued that he did not violate the act since he was not an active participant in the protests but was acting as a journalist and documenting the situation.
Lemon’s arrest has induced an uproar as many have condemned it and talked about that it goes towards the First Amendment. NCS, for instance, launched an announcement criticizing the arrest, per the Guardian.
“The FBI’s arrest of our former NCS colleague Don Lemon raises profoundly regarding questions on press freedom and the first modification. The Department of Justice already failed twice to get an arrest warrant for Don and several other different journalists in Minnesota, the place a chief choose of the Minnesota federal district courtroom discovered there was ‘no proof’ that there was any felony habits concerned of their work”, the network spokesperson said.
“The first amendment in the United States protects journalists who bear witness to news and events as they unfold, ensuring they can report freely in the public interest, and the DOJ’s attempts to violate those rights is unacceptable. We will be following this case closely,” the assertion continued.
Last week, a federal Justice of the Peace choose declined to log out on fees towards Lemon in connection to the Minnesota church protest.
Lemon is anticipated to make a courtroom look on January 30, in accordance to NCS.