Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested by federal authorities on Thursday night in connection with a protest at a Minnesota church service earlier this month.
Lemon, 59, was taken into custody by federal agents in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy Awards, his attorney, Abbe Lowell, said in a statement.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a Friday post on X that Lemon was arrested alongside three others — Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Lydell — “in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.”
Details of the charges against the four were not immediately available. However, the Justice Department promised to pursue charges against Lemon after the independent journalist covered the protest at a church in St. Paul on Jan. 18.
“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 representative and a representative for his husband did not immediately return requests for comment.
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 disrupted the same church service in St. Paul that Lemon covered were also arrested. Demonstrators gathered at the service because its pastor allegedly works for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Pilar Melendez contributed.
