Don Lemon makes post-arrest appearance on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’: ‘They want to instill fear’

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On Monday’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, Don Lemon gave his first in-depth television interview since his arrest, sharing details about what happened and how it felt to become the subject of a news story himself, rather than reporting on one.

Look, there’s a lot I can’t get into right now, but I want to be clear: I wasn’t there as a protester. I was there doing my job as a journalist – I was there to report, to document everything that was happening, and to get the story out. And honestly, I really believe there’s a big difference between someone who’s protesting and someone who’s just reporting the news.

Don Lemon, the former CNN anchor who now reports independently on YouTube, appeared in court less than a week after being arrested by federal agents in Los Angeles. The arrest followed his reporting on a protest against ICE that took place at a church in Minnesota earlier this month. Lemon, 59, was released on Friday and his lawyers expect him to enter a plea of not guilty.

California

Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles early Friday while reporting on the Grammy Awards. The arrest stems from a protest against ICE that he participated in last week in Minnesota.

So, I was watching Kimmel the other night, and he started by asking Don Lemon how he was doing after everything. Lemon was pretty honest – he admitted he wasn’t sure! He said he was okay, that he wouldn’t let this whole situation ruin his happiness, but he also made it clear this was really serious – we’re talking about potential federal criminal charges here.

Lemon and three other protesters were arrested at the order of Attorney General Pam Bondi, who stated on X (formerly Twitter) that the arrests were related to a “coordinated attack” on a church in St. Paul. Lemon faces charges of conspiring to violate the rights of church members and forcibly interfering with someone’s First Amendment rights. Lemon maintains he did not participate in the protest – which was organized to oppose an Immigration and Customs Enforcement field officer who reportedly leads services at the church – and says he was there as a journalist.

Don Lemon jokingly admitted President Trump hasn’t been a fan of his since his days at CNN. He said he wasn’t worried about a potential arrest – even after Trump shared a call for it – until members of Trump’s team, including Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, started publicly supporting the idea. After hiring a lawyer and offering to turn himself in quietly, Lemon said he didn’t receive any further response.

Lemon explained that it’s standard practice to allow someone to turn themselves in under these circumstances. He pointed out that even people facing more serious accusations are often given that courtesy, citing Donald Trump as an example.

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Lemon described what happened before his arrest on Thursday. He had been covering a Grammys event for the Black Music Collective and then went to a party afterward.

I returned to the hotel, still carrying the bag from the event, and as I called for the elevator, I was suddenly surrounded and people tried to grab and handcuff me. I immediately asked what was happening, and they told me they were arresting me. I asked who they were, and eventually they identified themselves. I then asked to see a warrant for the arrest, and they didn’t have one. They had to wait for an FBI agent to arrive and show me the warrant on a cell phone. Then, they took me outside where I saw about a dozen FBI agents – it was a huge waste of resources. It seemed their goal was to humiliate, intimidate, and scare me.

He didn’t understand the extent of the publicity surrounding his arrest until he saw CNN covering the story on a television while he was in custody.

He recounted seeing a headline that read, ‘Former CNN anchor Don Lemon arrested in Los Angeles.’ He asked the person he was with if this kind of thing happened often, and the person replied that Lemon had been the subject of news coverage all morning, adding that it was a significant event.

Hollywood Inc.

The CNN anchor who was arrested on Friday has always been comfortable with challenging topics, even though he’s faced some difficulties in his career.

I was really struck by something Jimmy Kimmel said during our talk. He was upset that hardly anyone was talking about the FBI searching the home of a Washington Post reporter who covers the government. Don Lemon, who used to be at CNN, explained it by saying he thinks the heads of major news organizations are afraid to cover it.

Mainstream media outlets seem hesitant right now, and I think they’re afraid to fully report the truth. That’s why I’m proud of my work – I focus on getting information directly from the source. This isn’t a time for mistakes or treating opposing viewpoints as equal when they aren’t. We shouldn’t give a platform to people who simply spread falsehoods. Some things are clearly wrong, and it’s crucial to highlight that right now.

Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, and other late-night hosts are increasingly becoming central figures in debates about free speech. Since Donald Trump became president, these hosts have offered sharper criticism, which has often drawn the president’s anger and led to threats against both the hosts and the networks that broadcast their shows.

CBS announced last year that “The Late Show” would end after airing for thirty years. The company said this was due to financial considerations, and not, as some suggested, because host Stephen Colbert had been critical of a deal involving a 2024 “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris and Paramount, CBS’s parent company.

Recently, Jimmy Kimmel briefly faced suspension after making comments about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk (ABC brought him back after a public outcry). Don Lemon brought up Kimmel’s situation just before his own legal issues began, when a judge initially dropped the charges against him. Lemon told his viewers on YouTube, “This isn’t a cause for celebration because it’s not finished. Go ahead and try to make me the next Jimmy Kimmel if you want.”

Speaking to supporters after his release last Friday, Lemon emphasized the critical importance of a free press, stating, “Now, more than ever, we need independent media to uncover the truth and keep those in charge accountable. And I won’t stop doing that work, ever.”

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2026-02-03 09:31