1. United States
2. Minn.
3. Letter

I am writing to express urgent concern over the Department of Justice’s arrest of journalists; Don Lemon and Georgia Fort for covering a protest in St. Paul. This action represents a clear failure to respect constitutional protections for the press and sets a dangerous precedent. Protections for journalists exist for one reason: to ensure they can report on government actions without fear of intimidation or retaliation. Arresting journalists for lawful newsgathering is not a neutral enforcement decision it is a tactic that chills reporting and discourages scrutiny. The message it sends is unmistakable: reporting on illegal actions of the Trump administration will carry personal legal consequences. This is how press freedom erodes, through overt censorship and through intimidation. When journalists are targeted by law enforcement, the public loses access to critical reporting, and unlawful government actions are hidden from view. I urge you to act immediately by using your oversight authority to hold the Department of Justice accountable and by publicly reaffirming that journalists may not be arrested or prosecuted for doing their jobs. Silence or inaction in this moment risks normalizing conduct that is fundamentally incompatible with the First Amendment.