Former CNN anchor Don Lemon arrested over Minnesota church protest

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested late Thursday by federal agents in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy Awards, according to his attorney Abbe Lowell.

The arrest stems from Lemon's presence at a protest on January 18 at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where demonstrators interrupted a Sunday service and chanted "ICE out" in opposition to immigration enforcement actions in the area. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement official serves as a pastor at the church.

Lemon, 59, has said he was working as a journalist when he entered the church to observe the demonstration. His attorney stated that Lemon "has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done."

The Trump administration sought to charge eight people in connection with the church protest. However, a magistrate judge who reviewed the evidence approved charges against only some of those individuals. Lemon was among those charged.

According to sources, Lemon is accused of violating the Enforcement Act of 1871, also known as the Ku Klux Klan Act. The law bans interference with certain civil rights, including voting, serving on juries, and practicing one's religion. A grand jury was empaneled on Wednesday, sources said.

The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations were involved in the arrest, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the matter. Lowell confirmed his client was taken into custody by federal agents Thursday night in Los Angeles.

In a statement, Lowell said: "The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable. There is no more important time for people like Don to be doing this work."

The Department of Justice has not yet commented on the arrest.