White House deputy chief of staff James Blair on Friday called out media outlets for not posting in their headlines that reporter Don Lemon was arrested as a result of a grand jury indictment. That information, however, remains under seal.
"Any 'news' outlet failing to make clear in their headline that Don Lemon was indicted by a federal grand jury is intentionally misleading the public. Thank you for your attention to this matter," said Blair on X.
Speaking at a press conference about an hour later, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said he couldn't provide any reaction or further information on Lemon's indictment because it was still "under seal."
Blair was quickly questioned by reporters asking for the sealed indictment.
"It would actually be malpractice to report that without an indictment being docketed or announced or confirmed by a participant in the proceedings — unless this is the formal announcement by the White House?" said Politico legal reporter Kyle Cheney.
"Please share the indictment, James, since you seem to know," wrote Politico's senior legal affairs reporter, Josh Gerstein.
Legal commentator and national security expert Marcy Wheeler quipped, "Likewise any 'news' outlet failing to make clear that two judges said there was no probable cause AND ALSO that the [Attorney General Pam Bondi] violated every ethical rule to get this indictment. Gonna be a long headline..."
"Was the grand jury convened in the Cabinet room yesterday?" asked White House correspondent S.V. Dáte from the Huffington Post.
