Don Lemon Arrested by Federal Agents in L.A. After His Attendance at Anti-ICE Protest

Don Lemon, the former CNN anchor who is now an independent journalist, was taken into custody in Los Angeles by federal agents Thursday night, according to his lawyer.

Lemon was in L.A. covering the 2026 Grammy Awards, according to his attorney Abbe Lowell. His arrest comes after the Trump administration’s Justice Department sought to charge Lemon (and others) with a civil-rights violation in connection with his attendance at a Jan. 18 anti-ICE protest inside a church in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Lemon, who livestreamed coverage of the protest, has said he was simply reporting on the event as a journalist.

“Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done,” Lowell said in a statement. “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.”

Lowell 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.”

The Justice Department had previously sought to charge Lemon with civil-rights violations, alleging that he had illegally interfered with the churchgoers’ constitutionally protected freedom to practice religion.

Variety has reached out to the Justice Department for comment.