Don Lemon Arrested by Trump Regime

Summary

Podcast Summary: Legal AF by MeidasTouch

Episode: Don Lemon Arrested by Trump Regime
Date: January 30, 2026
Hosts: Ben Meiselas, Michael Popok, Karen Friedman Agnifilo

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Overview:

This episode tackles the breaking news of journalist Don Lemon’s arrest by federal agents while covering the Grammy Awards, allegedly linked to his reporting on a protest involving ICE at a Minnesota church. The hosts provide in-depth legal analysis of the First Amendment implications, the apparent misuse of Department of Justice resources under the Trump regime, and the mounting turmoil within Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney’s office following controversial civil rights cases. Notably, the episode uses the Don Lemon case to comment on broader threats to press freedom and government accountability.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background on Don Lemon’s Arrest

• Don Lemon, covering the Grammy Awards in LA, was arrested by federal agents, supposedly tied to his prior journalism on a church protest against ICE in Minnesota (00:59).
• Multiple Minnesota judges, including Chief Judge Schultz, rejected requests to arrest Lemon, citing no evidence of wrongdoing (03:44-04:40).
• Despite judicial resistance, DOJ proceeded, reportedly securing an indictment or finding another judge to authorize an arrest warrant.

2. Civil Rights Crisis in Minnesota DOJ

• The administration faces “rebellion” and mass resignations in the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s office due to the DOJ’s refusal to investigate the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretty—two citizens killed by federal agents (01:37-02:54).
• Instead of addressing these civil rights abuses, DOJ appears to redirect its efforts toward arresting journalists like Don Lemon, suggesting an attempt to distract from internal turmoil (02:54-03:09).

3. Judicial Responses and Legal Irregularities

• Pam Bondi, Trump-aligned DOJ figure, unsuccessfully sought to override multiple magistrates. Chief Judge Schultz stood firm, stating, “there's no evidence that the journalist and the producer committed any crimes” (04:06-04:40).
• 8th Circuit Court of Appeals also rejected Bondi’s attempts, with Schultz noting the lack of historic precedent for such judicial intervention.
• The affair raises allegations of DOJ overreach and misuse of prosecutorial discretion (04:41-05:00).

4. Press Freedom, First Amendment, and Selectivity

• Assistant Attorney General (AAG) on Fox News, previewing the government stance:
  Quote: "The freedom of the press extends to a lot of different areas. It does not extend to somebody just trespassing and being embedded with a group of rioters and being part of the group that storms inside of a church... And the fact that Mr. Lemon thought that that was a good idea to do that and then to race away from it saying it was freedom of the press. Well, we'll see."
  — AAG, (05:48-06:15)

• Michael Popok underscores hypocrisy: “This administration has right wing bloggers and influencers who are not journalists, sit in on press conferences as if they're journalists... So Laura Loomer is now a journalist” (06:43-07:20).

• Debunking government’s narrow interpretation, Popok states, “Just because Don Lemon is now in the world of YouTube or... substack or doing live reporting guerrilla style... doesn't mean he's not a journalist. Doesn't mean he’s not entitled to protection.” (06:15-06:43, 09:06-09:19)

5. On-the-Ground Reporting and Interactions

• Clip from Don Lemon’s coverage inside the church captures a heated exchange, with Lemon steadfastly presenting facts amid resistance:
  Quote:
  "I'm out reporting on a lot of these and they're not targeted [ICE interventions]... Most of the people that they detain don't have criminal convictions or criminal record."
  — Journalist (Don Lemon), (10:18-10:29)

• Pro-ICE spokesperson counters and attempts to sidestep facts, prompting Lemon to assert, “As a journalist, I am a journalist... I want to give you the facts.” (10:51-11:09)

6. Legal Defense and Next Steps

• Abby Lowell, Don Lemon’s attorney, issues a statement:
  Quote:
  "Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents last night in Los Angeles, where 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 he's always done. There is no more important time for people like Don to be doing his work under the First Amendment. 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 arrest. This is the real indictment..."
  — Abby Lowell, read by Popok (12:10-13:03)

• Lemon is expected to appear before a federal magistrate in the Central District of California, with likely release to follow—pending updates from the hosts (13:03-13:19).

7. Reflections on Journalism and Government Accountability

• Popok closes with an exhortation for support of independent journalism:
  Quote:
  "Now more than ever, independent journalists wherever they live, including and especially on YouTube and on Substack... need your support."
  — Michael Popok (13:19-13:36)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “They are busy arresting Don Lemon, the journalist, while he was covering the Grammy Awards, apparently last night was arrested by federal agents. A curious turn of events.”
  — Michael Popok (00:59)

• “Not investigating the execution style murder of two American citizens on the streets of Minneapolis by federal agents, but going after Don Lemon.”
  — Michael Popok (02:54-03:09)

• “Laura Loomer is now a journalist.”
  — Michael Popok (07:09)

• “As a journalist, I am a journalist... I want to give you the facts.”
  — Don Lemon (10:51-11:09)

• “This unprecedented attack on the First Amendment and attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration will not stand.”
  — Abby Lowell statement (13:03)

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Important Timestamps

• 00:59: Breaking news on Don Lemon’s arrest.
• 02:54: DOJ distraction from civil rights outcry in Minnesota.
• 04:06-04:40: Chief Judge Schultz rejects government efforts to arrest Lemon.
• 05:48-06:15: DOJ spokesperson previews legal case against Lemon.
• 10:18-11:09: On-the-ground exchange between Lemon and pro-ICE protester.
• 12:10-13:03: Abby Lowell’s official statement for Don Lemon’s defense.
• 13:19-13:36: Call to action for journalist support.

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Final Thoughts

This Legal AF episode powerfully critiques the Trump Justice Department’s priorities, exposing an apparent war on journalism amid deeper institutional crises. It lays bare the legal and moral stakes of Don Lemon’s arrest, reflecting on wider threats to press freedom and the troubling realignment of law enforcement priorities. The hosts urge listeners to vigilantly defend independent reporting and constitutional protections as government accountability faces unprecedented challenges.

Transcript

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[Michael Popak]

Qualifying credit required While the Trump administration is besieged by rebellion related to its refusal to do an investigation into the civil rights violations and the execution style murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretty on the streets of Minneapolis, they are busy arresting Don Lemon, the the journalist while he was covering the Grammy Awards, apparently last night was arrested by federal agents. A curious turn of events. Abby Lowell, his lawyer, has issued a statement proclaiming Don's innocence. He was covering as a journalist a church protest about ICE's presence in Minnesota at a Minneapolis or St Paul church on 18 January. Multiple judges and courts in Minnesota and for Minnesota, from the magistrate judge to the chief Judge of the 8th Circuit, have rejected attempts to to issue arrest warrants for Don Lemon. But either they got some sort of grand jury to issue an indictment or they got another magistrate judge to issue a arrest warrant. Either way, it's been reported that he has been picked up in the Department of Justice again rather than dealing with mass resignations that are planned in the Minnesota U.S. attorney's office over their failure to investigate properly the death of Renee Goode and Alex Pretty are busy using their scarce resources to arrest journalists doing their job. Tom Blanche to hold a press conference later today about it. But we know what he's going to say because you're here on the Midas Touch Network and on Legal AF and we brought the receipts on Michael Popak. Now Todd Blanche seems to be taking the lead on this, not Pam Bondi. Although the reporting was that Pam Bondi was outraged that a magistrate judge in Minneapolis, Judge Miko, although he issued three arrest warrants for the three protesters who actually were in the church in violation of federal law, he did not and found there was no probable cause to arrest a journalist and his producer. Don Lemon, an independent journalist and his producer who were there covering the protest. It's not, he's not the only one. When Pam Bondi didn't like that, she ran to and to have a Article 3 district court judge assigned to the case to override the magistrate that became Chief Judge Schultz. Chief Judge Shilts did not override the magistrate. In fact, he wrote letters and emails to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in which Judge Schultz said in no uncertain terms that, that Don Lemon did nothing wrong. He said there's no evidence that the journalist and the producer committed any crimes. That's the chief judge of Minnesota. That apparently outraged Pam Bondi. The 8th Circuit eventually rejected her PA petition to force Judge Schultz to issue arrest warrants. Judge Schultz also noted that there were no precedent, zero times in history where a district court judge overrode the magistrate court decision not to issue an arrest warrant. Apparently not good enough for the dust department, which is also stung and bracing itself for a massive resignations in the US Attorney's office. Again, in, in Minnesota, just two or three weeks ago, we had about a dozen different US Attorneys in the, in the Civil Rights division and in Minnesota walk out the door because of the decision not to investigate criminally the officer Jonathan Ross, who murdered Renee Good. Instead, the decision made in Washington was to investigate Renee Good, the victim, and the victim's grieving widow. And that led to one round of resignations. Now, because of the Minnesota U.S. attorney's office being so upset that they're not investigating the Alex Pretty murder or the Renee Good murder, there's a new wave coming this week or early next week that the Department of Justice is obviously trying to distract from. So this is where their resources are. Not investigating the execution style murder of two American citizens on the streets of Minneapolis by federal agents, but going after Don Lemon. Let me show you a clip of Todd Blanche, who's going to be holding this press conference later today going after Don Lemon, accusing him of being a phony journalist who's embedded with a bunch of protesters and, and therefore has no First Amendment privilege. I would ask Todd Blanche to brush up on his First Amendment before he takes to the airwaves in press conferences. But here's what we can expect from Todd Blanche play the Fox clip, self.

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[Assistant Attorney General]

No, the freedom of the press extends to a lot of different areas. It does not extend to somebody just trespassing and being embedded with a group of rioters and being part of the group that storms inside of a church. So, as our assistant Attorney general said yesterday, we are absolutely investigating that conduct. And the fact that that that man, that Mr. Lemon thought that that was a good idea to do that and then to race away from it saying it was freedom of the press. Well, we'll see. We'll see.

[Michael Popak]

Now, Don, full disclosure. I know Don Lemon. I sat at a wedding as a guest next to Don Lemon. Don Lemon's a journalist. He was on CNN when he got fired from CNN and filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk. Keep that in the back of your mind. There's a lawsuit against Elon Musk because Elon Musk was going to platform Don on his X platform. They had a falling out. There's a breach of contract claim, and you got Elon Musk and war with Don Lemon. I'm sure that had something to do with everybody being so hot and bothered in the Department of Justice about going after Don Lemon. Just because Don Lemon is now in the world of YouTube or in the world of substack or doing live reporting guerrilla style from scenes like, like our Katie Fang doesn't mean he's not a journalist. Doesn't mean he's not entitled to protection. I mean, this administration has right wing bloggers and influencers who are not journalists, sit in on press conferences as if they're journalists. Riley Gaines in the middle of a press conference where she's complimented by by the press secretary, Carolyn Levitt. Riley Gaines, the swimmer who's against transgender people. The Pentagon briefing room is now filled only with right wing bloggers and influencers like Laura Loomer. So Laura Loomer is now a journalist.

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[Michael Popak]

Okay, so Don Lemon does his work now on YouTube. Doesn't make it. The Constitution doesn't say. Well. Well, it's YouTube. It's not CNN. Well, that's a whole different story. Here's Don Lemon doing his reporting in the church.

[Pro-ICE Speaker]

You know, while I agree with everybody's freedom to protest, these people have come into our house and they've interrupted our worship. If I was to break into any of their houses uninvited, I would be kicked out. Ultimately, it's not a good way.

[Journalist/Reporter]

They're saying that people are showing up at houses where they're citizens without duty. Process the battering ram into someone's private property and there's no recourse.

[Pro-ICE Speaker]

This is all part of a much larger dialogue. On one side are people who watch a previous administration bring 12 million people in over the course of four years. This is another administration's corrective. I think I could actually be sympathetic to some of the things where there have been been challenges to compassion and decency at the same time. These are what are called targeted interventions by ICE to keep the American people safe.

[Journalist/Reporter]

I respectfully may interject here. I've been out reporting on a lot of these and they're not targeted.

[Pro-ICE Speaker]

There are no warrants signed by a judge.

[Journalist/Reporter]

Most of the people that they detain don't have criminal convictions of criminal record.

[Pro-ICE Speaker]

I'm not going to get into the weeds.

[Journalist/Reporter]

You should know that, though, don't you think that's part the of.

[Pro-ICE Speaker]

Yes. And I. I could also show you many opposing sides. I'm not saying it's pretty. This is a part of a much larger dialogue in which one administration caused a great deal of chaos and havoc and danger for American Citizens and another is trying to correct that.

[Journalist/Reporter]

Do you believe that? Why do I honestly. Let me tell you just on the Journal. Yes, I am. I want to give you the facts.

[Pro-ICE Speaker]

No, no, no.

[Journalist/Reporter]

That's the interesting thing about this is that they won't listen to facts because.

[Pro-ICE Speaker]

As a journalist, I am a journalist.

[Journalist/Reporter]

I'm homeless. Gives fact.

[Pro-ICE Speaker]

And then you start correcting me with fact and don't have.

[Journalist/Reporter]

You shouldn't hear the facts. Of course, most people who are picked up.

[Pro-ICE Speaker]

Give me the facts on both sides.

[Journalist/Reporter]

That is the facts on both sides.

[Michael Popak]

Now, what we need to get to the bottom of. And I'll read you the statement from. From Abby Lowell, his lawyer. Now, we've talked a lot about Abby Lowell because he represents a lot of people who are targeted by the Trump administration. Abby Law is a lawyer for Letitia James, the attorney general for New York. Did a fantastic job so far. She's not been indicted. Having her original indictment dismissed, having multiple grand juries not indict her, getting the prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan fired and ultimately had to resign in disgrace. Same lawyer, he also represents Dr. Lisa Cook on the Federal Reserve before the United States Supreme Court, which is likely to be a loss for Donald Trump. Again, here's Abby's statement. Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents last night in Los Angeles, where 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 he's always done. There is no more important time for people like Don to be doing his work under the First Amendment. Instead of investigating the federal agents who killed two peaceful Minnesota protesters, the Trump Justice Department is devoting its time, attention and resources to, to this arrest that this is the real indictment of wrongdoing in this case. This unprecedented attack on the First Amendment and attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration will not stand. Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court. And thank you, Abby Lowell, for representing Don Lemon. He's going to be brought this later today. He's going to be brought before, I assume, a federal magistrate in the Central district of California in Los Angeles and I assume will be released. We'll find out probably later today about the indictment or the criminal complaint. We'll know about the press conference. So we'll update this fast moving story. We wanted to bring it to you here on Midas Touch and on Legal af. Now more than ever, independent journalists wherever they live, including and especially on YouTube and on Substack. Like me, Michael Popak, like the Midas Touch Network need your your support. Take a moment, hit the free subscribe button here on Midas Touch, come over to my YouTube channel Legal AF and do the exact same thing and support our substack as well where I will be posting the letters from Judge Schultz for you to read till my next report. I'm Michael Popak.

[Legal AF Host]

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