Award winning journalist and former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested by federal agents last night in Los Angeles in connection with a protest at a Minnesota church, his lawyer announced Friday.
Lemon was covering the Grammy Awards, according to a statement from his lawyer, Abby Lowel, given to the New York Times.
“Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents last night in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy awards. Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done.”
The former CNN on-air personality’s arrest follows a Jan. 18 protest at a St. Paul Church that Lemon says he was covering.
According to The Times, the case was rejected last week by a magistrate judge.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement official serves as a pastor at the church.
Lemon was scheduled to appear in court later Friday.
The Trump administration has sought charges against eight people in the case, alleging violation of a law protecting the sanctity of the service that was interrupted.
A magistrate judge approved charges against three of them, none of them Lemon, according to The Times, which indicated the an appeals court then rejected a bid to force additional arrest warrants.
“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 said in his statement.