Don Lemon has been charged with federal civil rights crimes over the anti-ICE church protest in Minnesota, the Department of Homeland Security has said.
The charges include conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers.
The 59-year-old was one of four people detained in connection with the protest inside Cities Church in St Paul during a service on 18 January.
Lemon livestreamed the demonstration, which took place because activists alleged that a pastor associated with the church also held a leadership role within Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Lemon has maintained he was observing the protest as a reporter.
US attorney general Pam Bondi confirmed the arrests on social media on Friday.
She wrote: “At my direction, early this morning federal agents arrested Don Lemon, Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Lydell Lundy, in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
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“More details soon.”
Abbe Lowell, Lemon’s attorney, called the arrest an “unprecedented attack on the First Amendment” – which includes freedom of the press – and said his client will “fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court”.
Mr Lowell 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.
“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.
“This unprecedented attack on the First Amendment and transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration will not stand.”
Mr Lowell said Lemon had been in Los Angeles covering the upcoming Grammy Awards at the time of his arrest.
In a statement, CNN also criticised the arrest of their former presenter, and said it “raises profoundly concerning questions about press freedom”.
It comes as US deputy attorney general Todd Blanche confirmed the DoJ had opened a federal investigation into a potential civil rights violation regarding the killing of Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by border control agents last Saturday.
Mr Blanche said: “We’re looking at everything that would shed light on that day.”
The killing of the 37-year-old ICU nurse came weeks after Renee Good was shot dead in her car, less than a mile from where Mr Pretti was fatally shot.
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Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said earlier this week that two agents who fired their guns during Mr Pretti’s shooting have been placed on administrative leave.
