The arrest of veteran journalist Don Lemon by federal authorities has ignited a firestorm of criticism from elected officials, press freedom advocates, and civil rights attorneys, who say the move represents a dangerous escalation against journalists covering political protests.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Friday called Lemon’s arrest “shocking” and “alarming,” saying it amounted to an egregious violation of the First Amendment. Lemon, 59, was taken into custody late Thursday night in Beverly Hills, according to authorities.
Federal officials say Lemon was arrested in connection with a protest that disrupted a church service earlier this month at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where demonstrators were protesting alleged ties between the church’s pastor and Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. Lemon was reporting on the protest.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said Lemon and three other journalists — Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Lydell Lundy — were arrested “in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church.”
Bass forcefully rejected that characterization.
“Don Lemon, an internationally known and renowned journalist and friend, was arrested last night by federal agents — simply for doing his job,” Bass said. She noted that Fort, an Emmy-winning Minnesota-based journalist, was also arrested while reporting on the same protest.
“The arrest of journalists for going into a church in the course of reporting is shocking enough,” Bass said, “but what’s even more alarming is that it’s no secret that Don Lemon is a Trump critic.”
Bass accused the Trump administration of escalating tensions following the recent fatal shootings of civilians by federal agents in Minnesota. “First, Trump’s agents shoot and kill people exercising their First Amendment rights,” she said. “Now we’re arresting journalists going into a church. It’s an egregious assault on constitutionally protected freedoms.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom echoed the alarm in a post on X, writing, “They raided a reporter’s home earlier this month. Today, they arrested journalists. They are coming for you. Speak out.”
Sen. Adam Schiff called the arrests a “grave attack on the First Amendment and freedom of the press.”
Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, said the journalist had been in Los Angeles covering the Grammy Awards when he was arrested and accused the Justice Department of prioritizing retaliation over accountability.
“Instead of investigating the federal agents who killed two peaceful Minnesota protesters, the Trump Justice Department is devoting its time and resources to this arrest,” Lowell said. “Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court.”
The Department of Homeland Security said Lemon is charged with conspiracy to deprive rights and violations of the FACE Act, which includes provisions covering houses of worship. Civil rights advocates argue the statute is being misapplied to journalists engaged in reporting.
Feb 6, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Don Lemon on the red carpet before Super Bowl LIX NFL Honors at Saenger Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The White House drew sharp backlash after posting a message on X that read, “When life gives you lemons…” alongside a chain emoji and an image of Lemon inside the church.
The arrests come amid heightened federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota. Roughly 3,000 federal agents were deployed to the Twin Cities in recent months, during which Renee Good and Alex Pretti were fatally shot in separate encounters with federal agents.
Although the administration has said it will scale back the operation, critics say the arrest of journalists signals a broader crackdown. As Bass put it, “This is not de-escalation. This is intimidation.”
