Former CNN anchor Don Lemon has been arrested by US federal agents in Los Angeles in connection with a protest that interrupted a church service in St Paul, Minnesota.
Lemon was taken into custody on Thursday night while in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy Awards. The arrest relates to an incident earlier this month at Cities Church, where anti-immigration enforcement protesters entered a religious service.
During the demonstration, protesters accused one of the church’s pastors of links to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The group disrupted worship and raised concerns about immigration policies under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Lemon livestreamed parts of the protest and was seen engaging with demonstrators and members of the congregation. He has said he was present in his capacity as a journalist and did not expect the protest to interrupt the service.
His lawyer, Abbe Lowell, described the arrest as an attack on press freedom and said Lemon would fight the charges in court. He added that Lemon had been tipped off about the protest but was unaware of its planned disruption.
It remains unclear what specific charges Lemon faces. Several other activists involved in the protest were previously detained or charged in connection with the incident.
Trump administration officials criticised the demonstration, accusing protesters of intimidating worshippers and disrupting religious freedom. The Justice Department has not issued a detailed public statement on Lemon’s arrest.