Don Lemon Arrested After Anti-ICE Church Disruption [WATCH]

Former CNN host Don Lemon was arrested late Thursday in connection with an anti-ICE protest that disrupted a Sunday worship service at a church in Minnesota, according to statements from his attorney and federal officials, as reported by The New York Post.

“Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents last night in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy awards,” Lemon’s attorney Abbe Lowell said in a statement shared with multiple reporters.

Lemon spent the night in custody and was expected to make his initial court appearance on Friday, according to Brian Stelter, the chief media analyst at Lemon’s former network, CNN.

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Lowell said Lemon was present at the church while working as a journalist and characterized his actions as protected under the First Amendment.

“The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable,” Lowell said. “Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court.”

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Lemon, 59, was part of a group of dozens of protesters who entered Cities Church during a Sunday service in St. Paul.

The group disrupted worship as part of a coordinated protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the state.

Authorities have not publicly detailed all charges Lemon may face.

However, federal officials have indicated the case involves alleged violations of the Enforcement Act of 1871, sometimes referred to as the Ku Klux Klan Act, which prohibits conspiracies to interfere with protected civil rights, including the right to practice religion without interference.

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said Lemon attempted to avoid criminal conspiracy charges by claiming he was engaged in journalism.

Speaking Tuesday on a podcast hosted by Benny Johnson, Dhillon said, “Whenever anyone conspires to violate the protected civil rights of American citizens, the Klan Act can be used to bring a conspiracy charge.”

Video posted by Lemon himself before, during, and after the church disruption has drawn scrutiny from investigators.

In footage recorded prior to entering the church, Lemon acknowledged working with activists and said he had conducted “reconnaissance” ahead of the protest.

The video shows him near a parking lot with demonstrators, including members of Minnesota Black Lives Matter.

“They’re planning an operation we’re going to follow them on. I can’t tell you exactly what they’re doing, but it’s called Operation Pull-Up,” Lemon said in the video.

“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.”

Federal officials say that footage undermines claims that Lemon was merely observing events as a neutral journalist, showing instead that he was embedded with and participating in the group that entered the church.

Lemon, who was fired multiple times during his television career and most recently parted ways with CNN, has been a vocal critic of immigration enforcement policies.

The arrest adds a new legal chapter to his post-CNN career as authorities continue to examine the planning and execution of the church disruption.

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