Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested Thursday night in Los Angeles by federal agents, acting on the direction of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, in connection with his reporting on an anti-immigration protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota on January 18. Authorities allege Lemon’s presence tied him to actions they characterize as a “coordinated attack” on a place of worship, though exact charges have not been publicly detailed.

Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, vehemently disputed the notion that Lemon participated in anything other than journalistic work, saying the veteran reporter was fulfilling his “constitutionally protected” role by documenting the protest and interviewing participants. The arrest took place while Lemon was covering the Grammy Awards, drawing sharp criticism from press freedom advocates and raising First Amendment concerns about targeting journalists for reporting on public demonstrations.

The development follows legal pushback earlier in the case, including a federal judge’s refusal to approve initial charges related to the Minnesota church incident. Lemon, who left CNN in 2023 and now works independently, has pledged to fight the allegations in court, framing the arrest as an attack on journalistic freedom. Civil rights groups and colleagues have called for scrutiny of the government’s actions amid broader debates over immigration enforcement and free speech protections.