Ex-CNN host Don Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles by federal authorities weeks after he adopted anti-ICE protesters who barged right into a Minnesota church throughout Sunday service.
Prosecutors say he was impeding the congregation’s proper to faith, however Lemon’s attorneys declare his unbiased protection is “constitutionally protected work.”
Here’s all the pieces we know to this point about Lemon’s arrest:
Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Don Lemon was dwelling it up in Los Angeles Thursday evening — beaming in photographs with Busta Rhymes and dancing at a live performance — simply hours earlier than he was arrested by federal authorities. Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Why was Don Lemon arrested in Los Angeles?
Lemon was arrested for becoming a member of dozens of anti-ICE protesters once they barged right into a Jan. 18 prayer service within the Twin Cities whereas he protecting the motion for his program “The Don Lemon Show.”
He is being charged with Conspiracy to Deprive Rights, which which makes it unlawful for “two or more persons to agree to injure, threaten, or intimidate a person in the United States in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States,” based on the Department of Justice.
He’s additionally being charged with Violation of the FACE Act, or the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act — a 1994 federal legislation that offers with entry to well being clinics but additionally covers interference with spiritual worship in addition to conspiracy statutes.
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Where was Don Lemon arrested in LA?
Lemon was taken into custody after 11 p.m. in a lodge foyer in Beverly Hills, based on CNN.
He spent the evening in jail.
When will Don Lemon be in court docket?
Lemon’s bond listening to is predicted at 2 p.m. at a Los Angeles courthouse and is being dealt with by the US Attorney’s Office in California.
He is predicted to make an look on the court docket listening to.
The ex-CNN host was taken into custody at 11 p.m. Thursday evening at a lodge in Beverly Hills, based on CNN. Don Lemon / YouTube
Why was Don Lemon in LA when he was arrested?
“The Don Lemon Show” star was in Los Angeles to cowl the Grammy Awards on Sunday.
He spent his last hours of freedom attending the 2026 Recording Academy Honors, the place he was snapped in photographs beaming with Busta Rhymes and chatted about his “fearless” model of journalism.
Lemon additionally posted a TikTok of himself bopping to a reside efficiency at a Spotify occasion in West Hollywood.
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What occurred on the anti-ICE demonstration on the Minnesota church?
As many as 40 anti-ICE protesters barged into Sunday worship at Cities Church in St. Paul on Jan. 18 whereas chanting “ICE out.”
The agitators have been reportedly beneath the impression that the home of worship’s pastor, David Easterwood, is a member of the federal immigration enforcement company — a notion that Lemon perpetuated in a put up on the social community Bluesky.
Lemon was arrest for following a gaggle of anti-ICE protestors right into a church in Minneapolis. Don Lemon / YouTube
The rally got here days after Renee Good was fatally shot by an immigration officer in Minneapolis, however earlier than Alex Pretti suffered the identical destiny.
US Attorney General Pamela Bondi known as the incident a “coordinated attack” on the church.
Don Lemon’s function at anti-ICE protest in Minnesota
Lemon adopted the group into the church and documented the protest for “The Don Lemon Show.”
In a clip filmed simply earlier than the incident, Lemon advised the digicam he had executed some “reconnaissance” with activist teams, which advised him they have been planning a disruption they known as “Operation Pull-Up.”
“It’s Nekima Armstrong, she’s been doing this since George Floyd, Daunte Wright and others, where they surprise people, catch them off-guard and hold them to account,” the previous CNN host added, dropping the identify of a outstanding native activist.
Lemon was filming clips for “The Don Lemon Show” on the Minneapolis church. @TheDonLemonShow/YouTube
“So that’s what we’re doing here, and after we do this operation, you’ll see it live, these operations are surprise operations, again I can’t tell you where they’re going,” he mentioned.
Once contained in the church, Lemon interviewed the church’s lead pastor, Jonathan Parnell, on digicam, who known as the protest “shameful.”
The host bragged about his ‘fearless’ journalism at a pre-Grammys get together in Los Angeles hours earlier than his arrest. X / @balleralert
Lemon fired again, “Listen, there’s a Constitution and a First Amendment to freedom of speech and freedom to assemble and protest,” he mentioned.
After receiving widespread criticism for his involvement within the protest, Lemon tried to stroll again his earlier remarks, saying he had “no affiliations with that organization.”
“I didn’t even know they were going to this church until we followed them. We were there chronicling protests,” Lemon claimed.
