CNN has issued a statement following the arrest of former anchor Don Lemon, who was captured by federal agents on Friday (Jan.30).
“The FBI’s arrest of our former CNN colleague Don Lemon raises profoundly concerning questions about press freedom and the First Amendment,” the statement reads. “The Department of Justice already failed twice to get an arrest warrant for Don and several other journalists in Minnesota, where a chief judge of the Minnesota Federal District Court found there was ’no evidence’ that there was any criminal behavior involved in their work.”
Lemon, along with three others, was arrested in connection with a recent protest in a Minnesota church. However, the specific charges have not been made public.
“The First Amendment In The United States Protects Journalists”
The statement continues: “The First Amendment in the United States protects journalists who bear witness to news and events as they unfold, ensuring they can report freely in the public interest, and the DOJ’s attempts to violate those rights is unacceptable,” the outlet continued. “We will be following this case closely.”
It was proposed that Lemon be charged under the FACE Act, which prohibits “the use of force, threat of force, or physical obstruction,” with anyone trying to obtain reproductive health services or exercising their right to religious freedom. Prior to his arrest, Lemon was in Los Angeles, covering the upcoming Grammy Awards, according to his attorney Abbe Lowell.
Lowell, who issued a statement on Lemon’s behalf, says, “Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done. The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable.”