Federal agents arrested journalist Don Lemon on Thursday evening in Los Angeles, according to his attorney, escalating a growing confrontation between the Trump administration and press freedom advocates over Lemon’s reporting on federal law enforcement actions in Minnesota.
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Lemon, a veteran journalist with 30 years of experience, was in Los Angeles covering the Grammy Awards when he was taken into custody, Abbe Lowell, his attorney, told The Advocate in a statement. The arrest follows weeks of public threats by senior Justice Department officials tied to Lemon’s coverage of protests in Minneapolis and St. Paul after federal agents killed two peaceful protesters earlier this month.
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“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. “The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable.”
As of Friday, the Justice Department had not publicly confirmed what charges Lemon faces. The Advocate has contacted the DOJ for comment.
Lemon’s arrest comes after federal prosecutors failed to bring charges against him in Minnesota for his coverage of an anti-ICE protest at Cities Church in St. Paul on January 18. Lemon livestreamed from inside the church as demonstrators protested immigration enforcement and the killing of Renee Nicole Good. Days later, Alex Pretti was also killed. Both were shot by federal agents during separate encounters in Minneapolis.
Prosecutors argued that Lemon’s presence could constitute interference with religious worship, a legal theory widely criticized as incompatible with First Amendment protections for journalists. A federal magistrate judge rejected that argument, refusing to sign arrest warrants and finding prosecutors had not established probable cause. A federal appeals court later declined the Trump administration’s emergency effort to override the ruling.
Despite those setbacks, senior Justice Department officials continued to publicly single out Lemon. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon warned that Lemon was “on notice,” comments that drew condemnation from press freedom groups and raised concerns that the government was reframing journalism as criminal conduct.
Lowell said the arrest reflects a disturbing use of federal power.
“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,” he said. “That is the real indictment of wrongdoing in this case.”
Lemon has previously said federal officials falsely portrayed him as a protest organizer rather than a journalist, a narrative that led to violent threats and homophobic abuse directed at him online.
Press freedom advocates say the arrest represents one of the most consequential confrontations between the federal government and a working journalist in recent years — a test of whether constitutional protections hold when reporting exposes uncomfortable truths about power.
“This unprecedented attack on the First Amendment and transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration will not stand,” Lowell said, adding, “Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court.”
This story is developing.
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