Former CNN journalist Don Lemon attends 2026 Grammys following arrest over Minnesota protest

Former CNN journalist Don Lemon attended the 2026 Grammy Awards, just days after being released following his arrest in connection with his coverage of an incident in which anti-ICE protesters disrupted a service at a Minnesota church.

Lemon walked the red carpet at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday alongside his husband, Timothy Malone.

Just three days before the awards, on Jan. 30, a judge in Los Angeles allowed Lemon to be released on his own recognizance, without bail.

Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, said that Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents while in Los Angeles covering the Grammy Awards. Federal sources told ABC News that Lemon was arrested at a Beverly Hills hotel.

Lemon and others are charged with conspiracy against the rights of religious freedom and an attempt to injure while exercising religious freedom, according to a federal indictment unsealed on Jan. 30.

The incident that led to Lemon’s arrest 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. Protesters were heard chanting “Justice for Renee Good” inside the church.

Lemon was at the protest as an independent journalist. Lemon posted a video to his Instagram on Jan. 18 showing protesters yelling as well as his interviews with churchgoers and protesters. Lemon said on the video, “We’re not part of the activists, but we’re here just reporting on them.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi said on social media that Lemon, Minnesota-based journalist Georgia Fort, and two others were arrested “at my direction.”

At least three additional people were previously arrested in connection with the protest. Bondi previously said on social media, “WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP.”

In brief remarks outside the courthouse following his release, Lemon said he was arrested for “something that I’ve been doing for the last 30 years, and that is covering the news,” and vowed to not stop that work.

“The First Amendment of the Constitution protects that work for me and for countless of other journalists who do what I do,” he said. “I stand with all of them, and I will not be silenced. I look forward to my day in court.”

ABC News’ Pierre Thomas, Katherine Faulders, and Luke Barr contributed to this report.