Journalist Don Lemon, formerly of CNN but now working independently, was taken into custody by federal authorities on Sunday while in Los Angeles covering the Grammys.
Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, released a statement on the arrest.
“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 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 statement said.
Lowell also sought to contrast the administration’s response to the killing of two Americans — Renee Good and Alex Pretti — by federal immigration agents with their apparent targeting of Lemon, a prominent critic of President Donald Trump.
“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,” the statement added.
