DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Palus Politicus Former CNN journalist Don Lemon arrested in connection with Minnesota protest

The arrest stems from a Jan. 18 incident at a church in St. Paul.

Former CNN journalist Don Lemon has been arrested in connection with an incident in which anti-ICE protesters disrupted a service at a Minnesota church, multiple sources told ABC News.

The incident unfolded on Jan. 18, when protesters entered Cities Church in St. Paul. The protesters said one of the pastors is the acting field director of the St. Paul ICE field office.

Lemon's attorney, Abbe Lowell, said Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents Thursday night while he was covering the Grammy Awards.

"Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done," Lowell said. "The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable."

"Instead of investigating the federal agents who killed two peaceful Minnesota protesters, the Trump Justice Department is devoting its time, attention and resources to this case," Lowell said, calling the arrest an "attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration."

Lowell called Lemon's arrest an "unprecedented attack on the First Amendment" and said the journalist "will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court."

At least three people were arrested in connection with the protest as of Jan. 22.

Lowell said at that time that a magistrate judge rejected charges against Lemon.

Attorney General Pam Bondi warned on social media on the night of the protest that "If state leaders refuse to act responsibly to prevent lawlessness, this Department of Justice will remain mobilized to prosecute federal crimes and ensure that the rule of law prevails."

Bondi last week was "enraged" at the magistrate judge's decision not to bring charges against Lemon, a source told ABC News.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/don-lemon-arrested-connection-minnesota-protest-sources/story?id=129699476

Now a second journalist has been arrested for covering the story.............

Independent journalist Georgia Fort was also taken into custody by federal officers on Friday morning. She posted a Facebook live video detailing the arrest.

"As a member of the press, I filmed the church protest a few weeks ago and now I'm being arrested for that," Fort said in her video message. "It's hard to understand how we have a Constitution, Constitutional rights, when we can just be arrested for being a member of the press."

https://www.kare11.com/article/news.../89-a9df2642-4f6e-425b-8562-208cefa48843

I only quoited the portion of the article that pertains to the second journalist arrested.

The freedom of the press and the freedom to protest does not trump the freedom to worship. They have the freedom until it infringes on someone else's freedom. This is a very good thing!!!

j/c:

A Federal Grand Jury indicting Lemon is the best thing for his career. He was essentially an irrelevant podcaster. Now, he'll get clicks/downloads/ etc. as a result of the indictment.


Money, money, money. MONEY!

You seem more upset that someone's worship was momentarily interrupted and the interruption was recorded ... Than you do about citizens being shot.

Can't help wonder if you'd be so vocal and upset about Muslims being interrupted at worship. Or Hindu... Or ... Or ...

Those that got shot put themselves in the way to get shot. That is on them. Those worshipping did not deserve to have their first amendment rights trampled on. Yes, I would expect worship of any religion to be strongly dealt with. That is a first amendment right to worship freely. It is the basic principle the founding fathers fought for and built the country around. I believe strongly that people have a right to protest. What these people are doing is not protest. I feel strongly that there is a right for a free press. But those rights do not and should never allow someone to use those rights to trample on someone else rights. That is what happened in this case.

Clearly, you didn't watch the videos... You just took Trumps word for it.....

You may wish to use your brain to process things just a bit first. Not as if that's ever been one of your fortes'. Lemon wasn't there as a protestor. He wasn't acting as a protestor. He was tipped off that this was going to happen and went there as a member of the press to cover the protest. Nothing about the event would have been different whether he was there or not other than the fact it would not have been documented.

So you're saying trump's justice department is increasing his fame, enriching him and lining his pockets with cash? If that's true it just goes to show how truly stupid they must be.