Former CNN anchor Don Lemon arrested after protest inside Minneapolis church

[ad_1] Journalist Don Lemon was arrested in reference to an anti-immigration protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church, his lawyer stated Friday.

Lemon was arrested by federal brokers in Los Angeles, the place he had been protecting the Grammy Awards, lawyer Abbe Lowell stated.

Lemon's arrest got here after a Justice of the Peace decide final week rejected prosecutors' preliminary bid to cost the journalist.

Lemon was amongst 4 individuals arrested Friday morning, FBI Director Kash Patel stated in a social media publish.

It's unclear what cost or expenses Lemon is dealing with within the Jan. 18 protest, which occurred between two deadly shootings dedicated by brokers of the federal authorities in Minneapolis, as a part of the operation by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to arrest people not licensed to stay within the nation.

The 2 individuals killed have been U.S. residents and bystanders, whereas a 3rd individual was shot within the leg in a separate incident.

Lemon, who was fired from CNN in 2023 after 17 years on the community, has stated he has no affiliation to the group that went into the church and that he was there as a journalist chronicling protesters.

"Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no completely different than what he has all the time performed," Lowell stated in an announcement. "The First Modification exists to guard journalists whose function it's to shine mild on the reality and maintain these in energy accountable."

Lowell added that "Don will struggle these expenses vigorously and completely in courtroom."

4th individual arrested A outstanding civil rights lawyer and two different individuals concerned within the protest have been arrested earlier than Lemon final week after disrupting a service on the Cities Church in St. Paul, the place an area official with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement serves as a pastor.

The U.S. Justice Division launched a civil rights investigation after the group interrupted companies by chanting "ICE out" and "Justice for Renee Good," referring to the 37-year-old mom of three who was fatally shot on Jan. 7 by an ICE officer in Minneapolis.

"Pay attention loud and clear: WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP," Lawyer Common Pam Bondi wrote in social media publish final week.

Civil rights lawyer Nekima Levy Armstrong, Chauntyll Louisa Allen and William Kelly have been every charged with conspiracy in opposition to rights for allegedly intimidating and harassing parishioners, based on a prison grievance.

The White Home drew criticism for altering a photograph of the civil rights of Armstrong in a social media publish that trumpeted her arrest.

<img loading="lazy" alt="A church on a hill with a large steeple is shown, with snow on the ground in front of the building. " srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/93a67161-6d0e-4428-b174-7ed4358026c9,1769782357325/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C3000%2C2000%29%3BResize%3D796 796w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/93a67161-6d0e-4428-b174-7ed4358026c9,1769782357325/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C3000%2C2000%29%3BResize%3D1083 1083w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/93a67161-6d0e-4428-b174-7ed4358026c9,1769782357325/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C3000%2C2000%29%3BResize%3D1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 762px) calc(100vw - 32px),730px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/93a67161-6d0e-4428-b174-7ed4358026c9,1769782357325/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C3000%2C2000%29%3B" style="aspect-ratio:1.5" data-cy="image-img"/> Activists shut down a service on Jan. 18 at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minn., claiming the pastor was additionally working as an ICE agent. (Angelina Katsanis/The Related Press) Cities Church belongs to the Southern Baptist Conference and lists one in all its pastors as David Easterwood, who leads an ICE discipline workplace.

The U.S. has a protracted historical past of protests inside locations of worship, however spiritual congregations have tightened safety protocols in recent times as lethal assaults on homes of worship and security issues have intensified. Two kids have been killed at a church taking pictures in Minneapolis final August.

The Justice Division's swift investigation into the church disruption stands in distinction to its choice to not open a civil rights investigation into Good's killing by an ICE officer. The division has not stated whether or not it would open a civil rights probe into the Jan. 24 killing of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by federal officers.

LISTEN | Minnesota AG Keith Ellison on fears locally: As It Occurs 6:49 Minnesota’s lawyer common says he fears for his spouse, neighbours

Minnesota Lawyer Common Keith Ellison accused the Trump administration of “extortion” for demanding the state hand over voter knowledge because it continues its lethal immigration enforcement actions within the state. Ellison instructed As It Occurs host Nil Köksal that the presence of 1000's of ICE brokers in Minnesota has his neighbours, and his authorized immigrant spouse, dwelling in concern. Funding turns into a flashpoint "As a substitute of investigating the federal brokers who killed two peaceable Minnesota protesters, the Trump Justice Division is devoting its time, consideration and sources to this arrest, and that's the actual indictment of wrongdoing on this case," Lowell stated.

The federal authorities's Operation Metro Surge has led to protests elsewhere within the U.S. along with Minnesota, and the funding of the Division of Homeland Safety has been a flashpoint in discussions to keep away from a partial authorities shutdown starting this weekend.

Trump, courting again to his first presidential marketing campaign in 2016, has lashed out at Lemon on social media in response to information protection, referring to him because the "dumbest man on tv."

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A number of individuals who Trump has felt antagonized by, primarily politicians and officers, have confronted indictment or the specter of prosecution to date in his second, non-consecutive presidential time period.

Democrats in Congress have accused the Justice Division of casting apart earlier guardrails of independence to do the bidding of Trump, who promised "retribution" in his 2024 presidential marketing campaign.

The high-powered Lowell, who previously served as lawyer for the president's daughter, Ivanka Trump, is presently representing New York State Lawyer Common Letitia James, Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook dinner and ex-Homeland Safety staffer Miles Taylor. Every has been the goal of a Justice Division probe.

New probes introduced The Trump administration has been criticized for prejudging the deadly shootings, and days after the Good taking pictures, Deputy Lawyer Common Todd Blanche stated it didn't meet the necessities for a civil rights investigation

The Division of Homeland Safety on Thursday stated that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is now heading the investigation into the taking pictures demise of Pretti. The division stated earlier this week that Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI), a unit throughout the division, can be heading the investigation.

WATCH | White Home tries to show down temperature, however no main modifications introduced: Border czar plans 'draw down' of ICE in Minneapolis, however many skeptical

U.S. President Donald Trump's border czar Tom Homan says immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis must be safer and extra focused. The change in tone comes after persistent unrest and the killing of two Individuals by federal brokers. Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem stated throughout an interview with Fox Information on Thursday that the FBI was within the lead. Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the division, stated Friday in an e-mail that HSI will help them.

Individually, Customs and Border Safety is doing its personal inside investigation.

Homeland Safety didn't instantly reply to questions on when the change was made or why.

Trump earlier this week dispatched his border czar, Tom Homan, to Minneapolis, with controversial Customs and Border Patrol official Greg Bovino leaving the state after having made various incendiary feedback.

Homan stated Thursday he needed ICE and CBP brokers to concentrate on strategic operations concentrating on prison offenders. Brokers have been accused of randomly stopping individuals on the road to demand documented proof of authorized U.S. residence or citizenship and interesting with protesters.

Homan made point out of a possible drawdown of the scale of the administration's contingent in Minnesota, however there have been no particular bulletins on that entrance.