Former NCS anchor Don Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles on the night time of January 29, following his protection of an anti-ICE protest. The 59-year-old’s legal professional Abbe Lowell, stated in a press release on Friday that Don “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,” learn the publish shared on Instagram. “The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable. There is no more important time for people like Don to be doing this work.”
It continued: “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. 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.”
© Getty ImagesThe arrest comes after a January 18 protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, the place demonstrators disrupted a spiritual service to oppose immigration enforcement, chanting “ICE out.”
Prosecutors allege that Don violated a federal regulation designed to guard people’ proper to take part in spiritual companies at locations of worship. Don was livestreaming outdoors the church earlier than following protesters contained in the constructing. He reportedly interviewed protestors, congregants and a pastor throughout the protest.
© GettyAccording to The New York Times, federal prosecutors initially sought expenses towards eight individuals in reference to the protest, together with Lemon. However, a Justice of the Peace choose who reviewed the proof final week authorised expenses towards solely three, discovering the proof towards Lemon and the others inadequate.
The Justice Department later requested a federal appeals court docket to compel the Justice of the Peace choose to situation extra arrest warrants, together with one for Lemon, however the request was denied.
© Getty ImagesDon addressed the incident in a video. “Once the protest started in the church, we did an act of journalism, which was report on it and talk to the people involved, including the pastor, members of the church and members of the organization,” he stated. “That’s it. That’s called journalism.”
Don at the moment works as a contract journalist and hosts an eponymous present on YouTube. Following a 17-year stint at NCS, he left the community in 2023 following controversy over feedback he made about girls and ageing.