Federal Agents Arrest Don Lemon

Friday, January 30, 2026

The former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested late Thursday night on charges that he violated federal law during a protest at a church in St. Paul, Minn., his lawyer said, in a case rejected last week by a magistrate judge.

Posted by qcp at 08:47 AM | 33 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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More: The protesters interrupted a service at the church, where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official serves as a pastor, and chanted "ICE out." Afterward, the Trump administration sought to charge eight people over the episode, including Mr. Lemon, citing a law that protects people seeking to participate in a service in a house of worship.

But the magistrate judge who reviewed the evidence approved charges against only three of the people, rejecting the evidence against Mr. Lemon and the others as insufficient. The Justice Department then petitioned a federal appeals court to force the judge to issue the additional warrants, only to be denied.

Abbe Lowell, a lawyer for Mr. Lemon, vowed to fight the charges.

"Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents last night in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy awards," Mr. Lowell said in a statement on Friday. "Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done."

Mr. Lowell added, "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."

#1 | Posted by qcp at 2026-01-30 08:48 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

November is coming up and Donald is feeling the screws.

He has a lot of people he wants and needs to arrest.

An awful lot.

There's a List.

#2 | Posted by Zed at 2026-01-30 09:00 AM | Reply

Don Lemon is in heaven right now. LOL!

#3 | Posted by fortfisher at 2026-01-30 09:07 AM | Reply

via GIPHY

#4 | Posted by fortfisher at 2026-01-30 09:12 AM | Reply

So in about a month we'll be reading articles about yet another failure of DoJ to secure and indictment?

#5 | Posted by jpw at 2026-01-30 09:20 AM | Reply

Adam Parkhomenko
@adamparkhomenko.bsky.social
4m
So this administration has charged an independent Black journalist reporting in Minnesota but not two white agents who murdered two citizens

This is so typical for the racist orange child rapist.

#6 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-01-30 09:37 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

So in about a month we'll be reading articles about yet another failure of DoJ to secure and indictment?

#5 | Posted by jpw a

Or someone filing Habeas to find out where in the hell Lemon is?

#7 | Posted by Zed at 2026-01-30 09:40 AM | Reply

There is no legal basis (based on what's required by the cited law - use of force or threatening force) for this to proceed. It is, however, a required step in creating a fascist regime. Two journalists were arrested, plus a third one a week or so agom(WaPo). This is a pattern.

Expect a press conference later from the Trump admin crowing about this and threatening other journalists, indirectly, to watch their step. This corrupt administration has already created a fascist-friendly press pool to cover it. This admin has already threatened broadcaster's licenses.

#8 | Posted by YAV at 2026-01-30 09:51 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

The article never once mentions them actually securing an indictment against Lemon.

#9 | Posted by qcp at 2026-01-30 09:52 AM | Reply

required step in ~~creating~~ entrenching and strengthening a fascist regime

#10 | Posted by YAV at 2026-01-30 09:52 AM | Reply

The article never once mentions them actually securing an indictment against Lemon.

Excellent point. is this just state sponsored intimidation with no basis, implemented by a lawless regime? The same lawless regime that seized voting records in GA that are sealed by a judge's order?

I have no idea how he is legally being held in jail, but he's in jail along with another journalist that was also at this protest.

RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES.

#11 | Posted by YAV at 2026-01-30 09:57 AM | Reply

The article never once mentions them actually securing an indictment against Lemon.

The Federal Judge basically directed prosecutors to seek a grand jury indictment.

A source familiar with the matter said a grand jury was empaneled Thursday. The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations, a law enforcement agency within the Department of Homeland Security, were involved in the arrest, sources say.
www.cbsnews.com

#12 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-01-30 10:13 AM | Reply

I have no idea how he is legally being held in jail, but he's in jail along with another journalist that was also at this protest.

He should be in jail, he materially supported the protestors.
Not sure, but just having popularity and a camera doesn't make you a journalist.

There's no first amendment right to plan and break up a religious ceremony. Otherwise you give MAGAts the ability to break up Muslim prayer.

"Oh but I am a journalist ... " ... BS.

Do you guys even think about ramifications?

#13 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-01-30 10:16 AM | Reply | Funny: 1

Runt, your child-raping hero has 34 felony convictions.

#14 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-01-30 10:18 AM | Reply

The free speech bros must be so angry! Unless the free speech bros were lying and only ever cared about themselves

#15 | Posted by lee_the_agent at 2026-01-30 10:26 AM | Reply

#13 | Posted by oneironaut

"He should be in jail, he materially supported the protestors."

Tell us how.

"Not sure, but just having popularity and a camera doesn't make you a journalist."

Unless you want to break into daycares and film children, right?

#16 | Posted by Sycophant at 2026-01-30 10:31 AM | Reply

#13

It's trespassing. Trump likes a circus.

Did John Miller become an Al Qaeda member when he interviewed bin Laden in a cave in 1998?

No. Don Lemon did the same thing Miller did. He committed an act of journalism.

Do you guys ever think about precedent? History?

As Confucius said: "Soggy rice no taste nice!"

#17 | Posted by lee_the_agent at 2026-01-30 10:35 AM | Reply

The free speech bros must be so angry! Unless the free speech bros were lying and only ever cared about themselves

Remember those who used to tell you about a group of villains protecting powerful pedophiles and trying to take away American's freedoms, including their right to bear arms?

Well, THEY are the ones who today are protecting powerful pedophiles and trying to take away American's freedoms including their right to bear arms.

- Pedro X Molina

#18 | Posted by YAV at 2026-01-30 10:44 AM | Reply

So-called journalists entered the Capitol on J6.

#19 | Posted by Petrous at 2026-01-30 10:44 AM | Reply

Do you guys even think about ramifications?

#13 | Posted by oneironaut

About as often as you meditate on what a dripping piece of green snot you are.

#20 | Posted by Zed at 2026-01-30 11:37 AM | Reply

Free speech isn't a get out of jail free card. If so-called journalists violate, say, the FACE Act they are still potentially liable to be prosecuted and hiding behind their journalist label won't protect them from being charged. Now, in trial if the defense can make a plausible case that he was acting in the role of journalist he probably won't be convicted.

#21 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-30 11:37 AM | Reply

" So-called journalists entered the Capitol on J6.

#19 | POSTED BY PETROUS AT 2026-01-30 10:44 AM | FLAG: "

Bears repeating.

#22 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-30 11:38 AM | Reply

" Did John Miller become an Al Qaeda member when he interviewed bin Laden in a cave in 1998?

No. Don Lemon did the same thing Miller did. He committed an act of journalism."

That's an apples/pumpkins comparison.

#23 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-30 11:39 AM | Reply

" Unless you want to break into daycares and film children, right?

#16 | POSTED BY SYCOPHANT AT 2026-01-30 10:31 AM | REPLY | FLAG"

You sure do suck at equivalencies.

#24 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-30 11:40 AM | Reply

Free speech isn't a get out of jail free card.

#21 | Posted by BellRinger

Well, of course---You support Lemon's arrest. Even though he has already been cut legally loose.

Free speech is threatened by people like you.

#25 | Posted by Zed at 2026-01-30 11:44 AM | Reply

Yav,

Question: do you regard James O'Keefe and Nick Shirley as journalists?

#26 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-30 11:47 AM | Reply

" Well, of course---You support Lemon's arrest. Even though he has already been cut legally loose."

By a lower court. The DOJ either got a grand jury indictment (unlikely) or some other higher level judge to issue a probable cause warrant. The fact that he was arrested at night (probably resulting in an overnight in the clink) and publicly is spiteful as hell and right out of the Biden DOJ handbook. Presumably we will find out today how they obtained an arrest warrant.

#27 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-30 11:56 AM | Reply

Presumably we will find out today how they obtained an arrest warrant.

#27 | Posted by BellRinger

Yeah, well....

Keep on presuming. It's what you're good at.

#28 | Posted by Zed at 2026-01-30 12:00 PM | Reply

" Keep on presuming. It's what you're good at.

#28 | POSTED BY ZED AT 2026-01-30 12:00 PM | FLAG: "

Lemon is being represented by Abbe Lowell, a very well known counselor. In the absence of a grand jury indictment or a probable cause warrant, this arrest would BL blasted into the stratosphere already.

#29 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-30 12:11 PM | Reply

the FACE Act
As I said in #8, Lemon didn't violate the FACE Act.

Question: do you regard James O'Keefe and Nick Shirley as journalists?
Lemon has a degree in Broadcast Journalism.

Jame O'Keefe does not. He has a degree in philosophy. He went to law school for a year and dropped out.
Nick Shirley (who I know nothing about) appears to have no degree in journalism. He has no degree at all, except from high school.

I do not consider either O'Keefe or Shirley, nor have I ever considered O'Keefe, journalists.

There is no doubt Don Lemon is a journalist.

Why do you ask?

#30 | Posted by YAV at 2026-01-30 12:39 PM | Reply

Remember when Trump called the free press the Enemy Of The State?
Here we are.

Congratulations, Republicans.
You Built That!

#31 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-30 12:47 PM | Reply

#29 | Posted by BellRinger

Everything flies completely over your head.

The only one who thinks Donald Trump wants to or will follow the law is you.

Don Lemon is another martyr for freedom. Thank God he's not dead yet.

#32 | Posted by Zed at 2026-01-30 12:47 PM | Reply

The fact that he was arrested at night (probably resulting in an overnight in the clink) and publicly is spiteful as hell and right out of the Biden DOJ handbook.
#27 | Posted by BellRinger

You're saying President Biden invented arresting people in public after sundown.
You're actually saying that.

Biden invented Sundown Towns.
That's what you believe.

#33 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-30 12:53 PM | Reply