Former CNN Anchor Don Lemon Arrested by Federal Agents in Los Angeles
In a dramatic development, former CNN anchor Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents in Los Angeles on Thursday night. The arrest occurred while Lemon was covering the Grammy Awards, according to a statement released by his attorney, Abbe Lowell.
Connection to Minnesota Church Protest
The arrest follows days of speculation about potential federal charges tied to Lemon's presence at a church protest in Minnesota. Last week, Lemon told Scripps News that he believed the Department of Justice was preparing to charge him in connection with a protest at a Minnesota church. He has consistently maintained that he was present as an independent journalist when demonstrators confronted a pastor they accused of being an immigration enforcement agent.
The incident in question took place at Cities Church in Minneapolis on January 18, when a protest disrupted the service. Demonstrators entered the church chanting "Hands Up, Don't Shoot!" and "ICE OUT." During a live broadcast from the scene, Lemon noted that several attendees left because of the disruption and explained that protesters were reacting to alleged links between the pastor and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Legal and Political Implications
Attorney Abbe Lowell criticized the arrest, stating, "Instead of investigating federal agents who killed two peaceful Minnesota protesters, the Trump Justice Department is devoting its time, attention and resources to this arrest, and that is the real indictment of wrongdoing in this case."
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon has since confirmed that a federal investigation is underway into possible violations of the FACE Act. This law prohibits the obstruction of religious worship services and reproductive health facilities.
During his coverage of the protest, Lemon expressed support for the demonstrators' right to protest, saying, "This is what the First Amendment is about, the freedom to protest," while also acknowledging that such protests can make others uncomfortable.
Background: Who is Don Lemon?
Don Lemon joined CNN in 2006 and hosted multiple programs before leaving the network in April 2023. Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he earned a degree in broadcast journalism from Brooklyn College. Before his long tenure at CNN, Lemon worked at several outlets including NBC News. His departure from CNN came amid controversy related to on-air conduct and workplace allegations.
Lemon publicly came out as gay in his 2011 memoir Transparent and in a New York Times profile. In recent years, he has continued working as a media personality and commentator outside the network.
Personal Life and Relationship
Lemon is married to Tim Malone, a New York-based real estate agent specializing in luxury properties in New York City and the Hamptons. The couple married on April 6, 2024, in New York City, five years after announcing their engagement in 2019.
They began dating in 2016 after meeting at a restaurant in the Hamptons in 2015. In a 2021 interview, Lemon explained how he recognized the relationship was lasting: "I just found the right person...Someone who really believes in family, and I decided, you know, I need to lean into my life because I grew up never thinking that I'd be able to be open about who I was in love with and about my love life and my relationship."
When Lemon was fired from CNN in April 2023 after 17 years at the network, Malone remained publicly supportive. A source later revealed that the firing had brought the couple closer together.
Tim Malone's Career and Background
Malone works as a realtor focused on high-end properties, beginning his real estate career in 2018 with the Corcoran Real Estate Group before moving to Douglas Elliman Real Estate in 2020. He has handled multiple luxury deals, including the sale of Lemon's $1.5 million Harlem condo.
Born on April 6, 1984, in Water Mill, New York, Malone attended Southampton High School and graduated in 2002. He later earned a bachelor's degree in history and journalism from Boston College in 2006 before moving to New York City.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Malone started his career in media through the NBCUniversal Page Program in 2006 and worked as a production assistant on the Today show. He remained at NBC until 2013, holding roles in network sales and in the sports and Olympics divisions. He later moved into marketing, serving as director of brand partnerships at Billboard from 2013 to 2016, and worked as an executive director at Jukin Media in 2017 before shifting into real estate.
Their Relationship Dynamics
Lemon and Malone met at Almond Restaurant in Bridgehampton, New York, in 2015 and made their relationship official the following summer. They marked the start of 2018 with an on-air New Year's Eve kiss during CNN's live broadcast.
Malone has spoken about the dynamics of their relationship, including their age gap and public visibility: "As a couple, I think we have a pretty interesting story, just in terms of our age difference," noting their 18-year gap. "We have different backgrounds, different racial backgrounds ... There were a lot of questions when we started dating of what was going to be the issue, and honestly, the fact that we were gay was, like, last on the list ... It was more about 'he is in the public eye' than anything, which took some getting used to."
During the pandemic, the couple spent extended time in the Hamptons. Lemon told Dan's Papers in March 2021, "People think of the Hamptons, and they think 'Oh, it's fancy and it's rich or whatever', and we just have a normal life there." Malone added, "That's key, it's an escape."
They later worked with designers Bill Cummings and Bernt Heiberg on their Sag Harbor home. Lemon told Hamptons magazine in 2019, "I love their work; they're so quirky and amazing. I wanted it to be a home — and that's what it is ... it's warm and comfortable and masculine."
The couple married at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City in spring 2024 before 140 guests. The ceremony was officiated by US ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, whom they described as a friend.
