(TNND) — Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was taken into custody on Thursday night after participating in an anti-ICE protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, earlier this month, his attorney confirmed to CNN.

“Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents last night in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy awards,” his attorney Abbe Lowell said in a statement. “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.”

“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 added. “This unprecedented attack on the First Amendment and transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration will not stand. Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court.”

Lemon previously said he was at the demonstration as a journalist and not as a protester.

“I’m just here photographing, I’m not part of the group I’m a journalist," he said in a video on YouTube.

The Department of Justice put Lemon on notice after he stormed the church, stating, “A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest! It is a space protected from exactly such acts by federal criminal and civil laws! Nor does the First Amendment protect your pseudo journalism of disrupting a prayer service. You are on notice!”

Attorney General Pam Bondi and other offcials argued the protesters did not have a right to be on the church's private property and by interrrupting they were impeding churchgoers' constitutional rights to express their religion.