CNN Denounces “Profoundly Concerning” Arrest of Don Lemon

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CNN is responding to the Trump administration’s arrest of former CNN correspondent Don Lemon, along with three other individuals. On January 30, 2026, Don Lemon, journalist Georgia Fort, activist Trahern Jeen Crew (a co-founder of Black Lives Matter Ministry), and political candidate Jamael Lydell Lundy were arrested following a protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrests on X (formerly Twitter), stating federal agents acted on her orders due to what she described as a coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul.

Don Lemon was arrested late at night in a Beverly Hills hotel while reporting on the Grammys. Sources within Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI told CNN that dozens of agents were involved in the arrest. CNN responded through The Wrap, calling the arrest of Lemon and three others a significant abuse of power by the government and a violation of the First Amendment, claiming the current administration is specifically targeting journalists.

The FBI’s arrest of former CNN colleague Don Lemon is deeply troubling and raises serious concerns about freedom of the press and First Amendment rights. The Department of Justice previously failed to secure an arrest warrant for Lemon and other journalists in Minnesota, with a federal judge finding no evidence of wrongdoing in their reporting. The First Amendment protects journalists reporting on news and events, and the DOJ’s attempts to undermine these rights are concerning. We will continue to monitor this case closely.

Major Figures React To Shocking Arrests

Don Lemon is a veteran journalist who joined CNN in 2006. He became known for hosting Don Lemon Tonight from 2014 to 2022 and also co-hosted CNN Mornings. In 2023, CNN fired Lemon three years before his contract ended, following reports of on-air disagreements and allegations of mistreating female colleagues, as reported by Variety. Since then, Lemon has launched his own show, The Don Lemon Show, on X, and was recently livestreaming a protest against ICE at Cities Church in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Don Lemon has frequently criticized the Trump administration, both on CNN and through his own independent platform. Donald Trump has consistently shown his disapproval of CNN and any journalist who doesn’t offer him positive coverage. He’s been known to personally attack reporters, once calling a Bloomberg reporter “a piggy” and often labeling those who ask tough questions as “stupid.” He’s even targeted late-night comedians who criticize him. Given that Pam Bondi admitted to requesting the arrest of Lemon, along with Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Lydell Lundy, many believe this is a personal vendetta and a breach of press freedom, which is constitutionally protected.

Although the court documents haven’t been released yet, Don Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, stated to CNN that his client is facing two federal charges. These include conspiring to infringe on someone’s civil rights and violating the FACE Act, a law that prevents using force or threats to stop someone from practicing their religion.

For three decades, Don has worked as a journalist, and his reporting in Minneapolis was consistent with his professional duty. The First Amendment is designed to protect journalists like him who uncover the truth and keep those in power accountable. Instead of investigating the federal agents involved in the deaths of two peaceful protesters, the Trump Justice Department is focusing its efforts on arresting Don – and that’s the true problem in this case. This is an unusual attack on the First Amendment and a clear attempt to divert attention from the administration’s many challenges. Don intends to strongly defend himself against these charges in court.

So, before the feds showed up at her place early Friday morning, Georgia Fort actually went on Facebook Live and said…

I’m being arrested for filming a protest a few weeks ago, and I believe this violates my First Amendment rights as a member of the media. As the press, we’re constitutionally protected to film in public, but federal agents are now at my home because of the footage I took.

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2026-01-30 22:25