According to a statement posted to Lemon’s Instagram account by his attorney Abbe Lowell, the arrest occurred while Lemon was in Los Angeles covering the Grammy Awards. The journalist is among several individuals facing charges related to an incident where protesters entered the church during a service, causing disruptions and confrontations.
Lowell emphasized that Lemon was present in his professional capacity as a journalist, a role he has fulfilled for three decades. “The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable,” the attorney stated.
The Trump administration’s Justice Department initially sought charges against eight individuals involved in the church protest under laws protecting places of worship. However, a magistrate judge approved charges for only three people after reviewing the evidence. Lemon was not among those initially approved for prosecution, according to BBC reports.