Former CNN anchor Don Lemon arrested after reporting on anti-ICE protest

Lemon was arrested on Thursday after he entered a local church in St. Paul, Minnesota, on January 18 to report on a demonstration in which protesters unhappy with Donald Trump's immigration crackdown disrupted a church service.

Activists had entered the building to voice their opposition to one of the pastors, who was working with local ICE officers.

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Lemon says he was observing the protest as a journalist conducting reporting.

According to his attorney, Abbe Lowell, the broadcaster was taken into custody by federal agents in Los Angeles while covering the Grammy Awards.

The Justice Department initially tried to bring a case against him last week, but it was refused by a federal judge.

This decision reportedly enraged US attorney general Pam Bondi, whi confirmed Lemon’s arrest in a post on X on Friday morning, promising “more details soon”.

Speaking after Lemon's arrest, Lowell said: "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."

It was not immediately clear what the charges were against Lemon, but he is expected to make a court appearance on Friday.

Lemon's former colleagues were outraged , with Jim Acosta writing on X: “This is outrageous and cannot stand. The First Amendment is under attack in America!”

US Senator Cory Booker said: "Arresting a journalist is a blatant attempt to intimidate and a further indicator of Trump’s authoritarianism. It goes against the most fundamental American values outlined in the First Amendment."

Three demonstrators who attended the protest Lemon was covering have also been arrested on charges of conspiring to interfere with the civil rights of others.

In an interview with Lemon, posted on his online show’s YouTube channel, one of the protestors described their action as a clandestine operation in which they disrupt “business as usual” at a surprise location.

Lemon also spoke to the church’s pastor, who told him: "Our church had gathered for worship, which we do every Sunday. We asked them to leave and they have not."