Former CNN anchor and independent journalist Don Lemon has been arrested over his alleged involvement in what US authorities described as a “coordinated attack” on a church during protests in Minnesota against an immigration crackdown.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi said on Friday that she ordered the arrest of Lemon and three others in connection with an incident at Cities Church in St. Paul.
Bondi alleged that the group played roles in a coordinated disruption during the protests, though details of the specific charges were not immediately disclosed.
Lemon’s lawyer said he was taken into custody overnight in Los Angeles, stressing that his client was present in Minnesota purely in a journalistic capacity.
According to the lawyer, Lemon’s activities during the protests were consistent with his long-standing work as a reporter covering major national events.
The arrest has sparked renewed debate in the United States over press freedom and the role of journalists covering protests, as legal proceedings against Lemon are expected to continue.
