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.”
Right here’s all the things we all know thus far about Lemon’s arrest:
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 masking the motion for his program “The Don Lemon Present.”
He’s being charged with Conspiracy to Deprive Rights, which which makes it unlawful for “two or extra individuals to conform to injure, threaten, or intimidate an individual in the US within the free train or enjoyment of any proper or privilege secured by the Structure or legal guidelines of the US,” in keeping with the Division of Justice.
He’s additionally being charged with Violation of the FACE Act, or the Freedom of Entry to Clinic Entrances Act — a 1994 federal regulation that offers with entry to well being clinics but additionally covers interference with spiritual worship in addition to conspiracy statutes.
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The place was Don Lemon arrested in LA?
Lemon was taken into custody after 11 p.m. in a resort foyer in Beverly Hills, in keeping with CNN.
He spent the night time in jail.
When will Don Lemon be in courtroom?
Lemon’s bond listening to is predicted at 2 p.m. at a Los Angeles courthouse and is being dealt with by the US Legal professional’s Workplace in California.
He’s anticipated to make an look on the courtroom listening to.
Why was Don Lemon in LA when he was arrested?
“The Don Lemon Present” star was in Los Angeles to cowl the Grammy Awards on Sunday.
He spent his remaining hours of freedom attending the 2026 Recording Academy Honors, the place he was snapped in images beaming with Busta Rhymes and chatted about his “fearless” model of journalism.
Lemon additionally posted a TikTok of himself bopping to a stay efficiency at a Spotify occasion in West Hollywood.
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 underneath 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 submit on the social community Bluesky.
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 Legal professional Common Pamela Bondi known as the incident a “coordinated assault” 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 Present.”
In a clip filmed simply earlier than the incident, Lemon instructed the digital camera he had achieved some “reconnaissance” with activist teams, which instructed 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, the place they shock folks, catch them off-guard and maintain them to account,” the previous CNN host added, dropping the identify of a outstanding native activist.
“In order that’s what we’re doing right here, and after we do that operation, you’ll see it stay, these operations are shock operations, once more I can’t inform you the place they’re going,” he stated.
As soon as contained in the church, Lemon interviewed the church’s lead pastor, Jonathan Parnell, on digital camera, who known as the protest “shameful.”
Lemon fired again, “Pay attention, there’s a Structure and a First Modification to freedom of speech and freedom to assemble and protest,” he stated.
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 group.”
“I didn’t even know they have been going to this church till we adopted them. We have been there chronicling protests,” Lemon claimed.
