ACLU and ACLU of Minnesota React to the Trump Administration's Arrests of Journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort

Their overnight detention and arrests are the latest example of President Trump and his administration attacking freedom of the press.

Affiliate: ACLU of Minnesota
January 30, 2026 1:00 pm

Media Contact
125 Broad Street
18th Floor
New York, NY 10004
United States

WASHINGTON 鈥 Last night, the Trump administration arrested journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort for reporting on federal agent activity and protests in Minneapolis. Their arrests and overnight detentions came after a federal magistrate judge declined to issue arrest warrants for them, and after Minnesota's chief federal district judge expressed about the charges鈥 validity.

These arrests are the latest in a series of attacks by the Trump Administration on the First Amendment鈥檚 guarantee of a free press. In recent months, the Trump administration has retaliated against journalists and bystanders for recording immigration enforcement activity, conducted a search of a Washington Post journalist鈥檚 home after reporting confidential information, punished the Associated Press for refusing to use the Administration鈥檚 preferred term for the Gulf of Mexico, and tried to prevent journalists from reporting on non-official information from the Pentagon.

Esha Bhandari, Director of the ACLU Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, issued the following statement in response:

鈥淭he federal government prosecuting journalists for their reporting is extremely concerning, made more so by its continued pursuit of these charges after a magistrate judge refused to sign-off on the arrest warrant and over the reported objections of career prosecutors. This will send a chilling message to other journalists reporting on the administration's actions, and should be understood in the context of the government鈥檚 broader crackdown on freedom of the press.鈥

Deepinder Mayell, Executive Director of the ACLU of Minnesota, issued the following statement:

鈥淭he Trump administration has abused the rights of Minnesotans for months. Arresting journalists should alarm everyone.

These arrests are a bold escalation of the Trump administration鈥檚 quest to target a free press, avoid transparency and shape the truth. They are trying to send a message to journalists across the country that they could be next.鈥

Learn More About the 老熟女午夜福利 in This Press Release