UPDATE - Former CNN anchor taken into custody by US federal agents after Minnesota church protest

ADDS HOUSE MINORITY LEADER'S REMARKS

By Diyar Guldogan

WASINGTON (AA) - Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents late Thursday in Los Angeles, his attorney said.

“Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done," Abbe Lowell said in a statement.

Lemon joined dozens of protesters opposing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) who surged into Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, earlier this month, disrupting a worship service and sparking heated confrontations.

“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.

The attorney called Lemon's arrest an "unprecedented attack on the First Amendment."

“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," Lowell said, adding that Lowell will fight the charges "vigorously and thoroughly" in court.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Friday that Lemon is an "accomplished" journalist who is doing his job as part of the free and fair press.

He added that there is "no legitimacy, no basis" to Lemon's arrest.

"Trump administration has systematically targeted the free and fair press because they want to intimidate America and oppose anyone who is not willing to bend the knee to their extremism," Jeffries told reporters at the Capitol Hill.