Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested by federal authorities on Thursday night, according to his attorney.
Lemon, 59, was taken into custody by federal agents last night in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy awards, his attorney, Abbe Lowell, said in a statement.
It was not immediately clear why Lemon was arrested. However, the Justice Department promised to pursue charges against Lemon after the independent journalist covered a protest in a Minnesota church last week.
“Instead of investigating the 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,” Lowell said. “This unprecedented attack on the First Amendment and transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration will not stand.
“Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court,” Lowell added.
Lemon’s arrest is the latest development in the federal government’s immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, in which two U.S. citizens have been shot and killed.
Three people who protested the same church service Lemon covered were also arrested. Demonstrators gathered at the service because its pastor allegedly works for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Over the last two months, the federal government has surged 3,000 federal immigration agents to the Twin Cities.
