In his first interview since his release from prison, Don Lemon slammed his arrest and “federal criminal charges.”
The famous journalist appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” He talked about how he’s been doing since he was arrested last month after reporting an anti-ICE protest at a church in Minnesota.
“I don’t know… I’m fine, but I’m not going to let them steal my joy. But this is very serious. This is a federal criminal charge,” Lemon, 59, told host Jimmy Kimmel.
The comedian joked that Lemon is “not President Trump’s favorite” since his appearance on CNN.
“You’re not on his top 10 list,” Kimmel, 58, quipped.
The TV host asked Lemon if there was a difference between protesters and “qualified journalists” who enter churches during protests.
“Let me tell you, I’m not a protester,” Lemon responded. “I went there to be a journalist. I went there to record, record, record what was happening.
“I was following the group. … But I think there’s a difference between protesters and journalists,” he added.
Lemon then spoke about what happened when he was arrested by federal agents at a hotel after attending the 2026 Recording Academy Honors in Los Angeles last Thursday.
“Suddenly I felt myself being crushed…people were grabbing me and trying to handcuff me,” he recalled, noting that “more than a dozen” agents came to arrest him.
But he called the case a “waste of resources” because he had offered to turn himself in.
“They want to embarrass you, they want to intimidate you, they want to instill fear,” the former WBRC news anchor said. “And that’s why they did it that way.”
After his arrest, he was held in custody for approximately 12 hours, during which time he was allegedly denied “one phone call.”
Luckily, Lemon was able to use her Apple Watch to leave a voicemail for her lawyer and her husband, Tim Malone.
As Page Six previously reported, Lemon was charged with conspiracy to deprive of rights and violating the FACE Act (interfering with someone’s First Amendment rights by force) during an anti-ICE protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, on January 18.
The former CNN anchor’s attorney, Abby Rowell, vowed in a statement via Instagram that “Don will vigorously and thoroughly fight these charges in court.”
“Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different from anything he has ever done. The First Amendment exists to protect journalists in their role of highlighting truth and holding those in power accountable,” the attorney added.
The next day, Lemon was released and spoke to reporters outside the courthouse.
“I’ve spent my entire career reporting news, and I’m not going to stop now,” he said.
“The First Amendment protects me and countless other journalists who do what I do. I stand with them all and will not be silent. I look forward to my day in court,” he added.
Page Six exclusively reported that Lemon received a standing ovation when he attended Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy Awards gala last Saturday.
