Fox News Panel Blasts Trump for Trying to ‘Silence Voices’

The Inquisitr

Independent journalist #DonLemon has been released from federal custody after a dramatic overnight arrest in Los Angeles that has sent shockwaves through the media industry. Charged with #Conspiracy and interfering with religious freedom, the former CNN anchor is accused of orchestrating—rather than just reporting on—a January 18 protest at #CitiesChurch in St. Paul, Minnesota. Attorney General #PamBondi confirmed the arrest, stating it was carried out at her direction to protect "the sacred right to worship."  However, legal experts and #PressFreedom advocates, including #TheGuardian and the #NABJ, are labeling the move a "lawless crusade" and a direct attempt by President #DonaldTrump to silence his most vocal critics. This #BreakingNews report analyzes the unsealed indictment, the "defiant" tone Lemon struck outside the courthouse, and the escalating "war on the press" that has #HakeemJeffries and #ChuckSchumer calling for accountability. From the #Inquisitr investigation into the "failed" previous warrants to the latest #WhiteHouse social media celebration, we break down why journalism itself is now on trial.  #DonLemon #TrumpNews #BreakingNews #FirstAmendment #PressFreedom #Trump2026 #DonLemonArrest #PamBondi #USPolitics #GOP #Democrats #MinnesotaProtest #CitiesChurch #ICE #Inquisitr #NewsUpdate #JournalismOnTrial #WashingtonDC #LegalBattle #CivilRights #WhiteHouseScandal #SocialMediaReaction #Midterms2026 #NewsAnalysis #FreeSpeech

Transcript

00:00A Fox News host criticized Donald Trump, accusing the president and his administration of attempting

00:04to silence voices they oppose during a televised discussion of recent journalist arrests.

00:09On Fox News Saturday, hosted by Kayleigh McEnany, GOP strategist Tim Parrish discussed the arrest

00:15of Don Lemon and argued that the journalist was part of a group that disrupted a church service

00:19in Minnesota. Parrish said the incident involved no peaceful protest and described it as a violation

00:23carried out for political purposes. Corbin Trent, co-founder of Brand New Congress and

00:28co-director of Justice Democrats, disputed that account. Trent said the service was interrupted

00:32by protesters and that journalists, including Lemon, were present to cover the event. He stated

00:36that Lemon's arrest was part of a broader pattern, citing at least 35 and a 5 arrests of journalists

00:41covering protests or demonstrations. Trent also referenced a separate case in which a journalist

00:46was detained for 110 days after covering the No Kings protest and later deported despite holding

00:51a work visa and being eligible for a green card. He characterized these actions as a systemic effort

00:56by the administration to suppress unfavorable coverage. Following the broadcast, reactions

01:00circulated widely on social media, with users debating whether Lemon was acting as a journalist

01:04and raising concerns about press freedoms in the United States. Lemon was released from custody on

01:09Friday after being charged with federal civil rights violations related to his coverage of an

01:13anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service at a St. Paul church on January 18th.

01:18He had been arrested overnight in Los Angeles, while other journalists and protest participants

01:22were arrested in Minnesota. After a court appearance in California, Lemon told reporters he would

01:27continue his work. Media advocates and civil rights figures, including Reverend Al Sharpton,

01:31criticized the arrests, warning of threats to First Amendment protections. A Minnesota grand jury

01:36has indicted Lemon and others. And don't forget to like for more breaking political news.

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