"Gay journalist Don Lemon has been arrested in connection with attending and reporting on a protest in Minnesota. Lemon (59) was arrested late Thursday (29 January) night on charges that he violated federal law. The journalist, who previously worked for CNN, said he was reporting when he entered the Cities Church, a Christian church in St Paul, Minnesota, on 18 January. He said he attended to observe a protest against the immigration crackdown in the area, which has seen Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, both 37, killed by federal immigration agents."
"The chant resulted in the Trump administration charging eight people, including Lemon, citing a law that protects people seeking to participate in a service in a house of worship. A magistrates judge approved the charges against three people, rejecting the evidence against Lemon and the others as insufficient. The Justice Department then petitioned a federal appeals court to force the judge to issue additional warrants, a request that was denied."
"Lemon's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, has vowed to fight the charges. He said in a statement, as per The New York Times: "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." Lemon is set to appear in federal court in Los Angeles on Friday morning. It's thought that he will challenge the prosecution's case by arguing that he was covering the event as a journalist, not protesting."
Don Lemon was arrested on 29 January on federal charges alleging violation of a law protecting participation in religious services. He entered Cities Church in St Paul on 18 January while covering a protest against an immigration crackdown after the deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents. Protestors interrupted a service led by an ICE official and chanted "ICE out", prompting charges against eight people. A magistrate judge approved charges against three but found evidence against Lemon insufficient; an appeals court denied the Justice Department's request for additional warrants. Lemon's lawyer Abbe Lowell vowed to fight the charges and Lemon plans to argue he was reporting, not protesting, at his federal court appearance in Los Angeles. Lemon is an independent journalist with a YouTube show and has discussed a public dispute with rapper Nicki Minaj.
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