The former CNN anchor was on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday (2) to talk about his arrest in Los Angeles. Don Lemon was arrested after streaming a live broadcast of an anti-ICE protest in Minneapolis.
The protest was said to have interrupted a service at the Cities Church in St. Paul, which was characterized by Attorney General Pam Bondi as a “coordinated attack.”
Don Lemon has always stated that he was there as a journalist, not as a protester. He claims that his lawyer reached out to federal agents for a voluntary surrender, but received no response.
The journalist said the whole episode was a “waste of resources” and that he was pushed by several officers shortly after pressing the elevator button in the hotel.
“That’s exactly what they want. They want to embarrass you. They want to intimidate you. They want to instill fear, and that’s why they did it this way,” Don Lemon explained.
He was charged with conspiracy to deprive rights and violating the Clinic Access Law.
The journalist also mentioned that he was held in a detention room for 12 hours and wasn’t allowed to make a phone call. He is scheduled to appear in a Minneapolis court on February 9.
Jimmy’s full interview with Don Lemon after his arrest…
Thank you for having me! pic.twitter.com/QyDgIkvaNL
— Don Lemon (@Donlemonbsky) February 3, 2026
Photos: X @Donlemonbsky. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
