'This is truly insane': Experts hit panic button as Trump admin arrests known journalist
Former CNN host Don Lemon's arrest in connection with a protest in Minnesota provoked shock and horror on social media.
President Donald Trump has amplified calls for the broadcaster's arrest for covering a demonstration at a church led by a pastor believed to be a high-ranking local leader for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Lemon was taken into custody Thursday despite a magistrate judge rejecting charges against him last week.
"What was Don Lemon arrested for? I thought the church protest indictment was dismissed by magistrate and appeal court?" asked Cardazo law professor Kate Levine. "Like what are the actual charges?"
"I'm sure it will be available soon but given magistrate judges, district court judges, & the appeals court all said the U.S. couldn't arrest Don Lemon I'm curious exactly how they acquired an arrest warrant," said journalist Timothy Burke.
"Damn. Don Lemon was snatched up by the feds last night," noted attorney Yankee Mack. "Didn’t a federal magistrate and appellate court tell DOJ that they had no probable cause to arrest Lemon? So what changed between 2 weeks ago and last night."
"The Trump regime has detained former CNN host Don Lemon," posted veteran journalist Mark Jacob. "A week ago, the regime tried to charge Lemon for covering an anti-ICE protest inside a Minnesota church, but a magistrate judge rejected the move. Lemon predicted: 'They’re going to try again.' Apparently, he was right."
"They arrested Don Lemon. This is horrifying," reacted The Atlantic's Jemele Hill. "I don’t care what your political beliefs or leanings are, what journalism outlet you represent, this absolutely cannot stand."
"This is truly insane ... and then they came for the journalists," worried Bluesky user Susan Gross.
"They went after Don Lemon faster than anyone on the Epstein Files," pointed out influencer Alex Cole.
"All-out assault on the First Amendment," opined sportscaster Jon Alba. "Truly don't understand how some of you can look at yourselves in the mirror and be okay with our de-evolution as a republic."
"Attorney for my colleague and friend Don Lemon has released a statement saying Don was arrested by federal agents in LA last night," added journalist Jim Acosta. "This is outrageous and cannot stand. The First Amendment is under attack in America!"
"Don Lemon’s arrest is a disgraceful attack on the First Amendment," agreed Chicago Tribune reporter Gregory Royal Pratt. "Government arresting a journalist for reporting on public controversies is a five alarm fire for our constitutional rights with endless and enormous consequences."