President Donald Trump criticized Don Lemon and denied having prior knowledge that the former CNN anchor would be arrested last week.

Federal authorities arrested Lemon Thursday night on federal civil rights charges in connection with his coverage of a protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, on January 18. conspiracy included and hinder the First Amendment rights of those who worship in the church.

According to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Lemon was “released on his own recognizance.” His next court date is Feb. 9 in Minneapolis.

While speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Saturday, Trump said Lemon’s arrest was “the best thing that could have happened to him” in his decades-long journalism career.

When asked by a reporter if he knew Lemon was going to be detained, Trump said he didn’t “know anything about the Don Lemon thing” and then described him as “sleazy.”

“Everyone knows it. He’s done… It’s probably the best thing that can happen to him from his point of view,” Trump said. “He had no viewers. He was a failure, he was a failed presenter. And now it’s in the news. “I didn’t know anything about it.”

Minutes after his release, Lemon promised that he would not stop reporting.

“I’ve spent my entire career covering the news. I won’t stop now,” Lemon said. “There is no more important time than now, this very moment, to have free and independent media that shines a light on the truth and holds those in power accountable.”

President Donald Trump and independent journalist Don Lemon.
President Donald Trump and independent journalist Don Lemon.

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Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, accused the Trump administration of “wrongdoing” in a separate statement shared on Instagram.

“Instead of investigating the federal agents who killed two peaceful Minnesota protesters, the Trump Department of Justice is devoting its time, attention and resources to this arrest, and that is the real allegation of wrongdoing in this case,” Lowell said. “This unprecedented attack on the First Amendment and transparent attempt to distract from the many crises facing this administration will not stand.”

Georgia Fort, another reporter who covered the Jan. 18 protest at Cities Church, shared on her Facebook livestream that she was also arrested early Friday morning.

Media advocacy groups and journalists have denounced the arrests of Lemon and Fort, calling the matter “extremely alarming” and an “attack on the first amendment.”