Don Lemon Arrested: A Controversial Encounter with Federal Agents

Tue Feb 03 2026 14:44:47 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Don Lemon, an independent journalist, was arrested in Los Angeles under contentious circumstances. He claims he had informed authorities of his intent to surrender regarding civil rights charges linked to a protest at a Minnesota church.

Don Lemon, the independent journalist and former CNN host, recently recounted a dramatic encounter with federal agents who arrested him in Los Angeles. Lemon stated that around a dozen agents confronted him after he had planned to voluntarily surrender over federal civil rights charges related to a January protest at a Minnesota church. During an appearance on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', Lemon described how he was surprised by the sudden arrest and questioned the efficiency of law enforcement's approach, especially since he had communicated with his attorney about his willingness to turn himself in. With a grand jury indictment already in place, Lemon maintains his intention to plead not guilty while asserting his commitment to journalism.

Don Lemon, a prominent independent journalist, shared his unsettling experience last week when federal agents arrived at his Los Angeles hotel to arrest him. The arrest stemmed from pending federal civil rights charges linked to his coverage of a protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church.

On 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', Lemon expressed frustration over the unnecessary deployment of law enforcement. He stated that he had communicated through his attorney about his intention to surrender to authorities, implying that a more efficient process could have been followed.

I was walking up to the room and pressed the elevator button when I felt myself being jostled, with people trying to grab me and put me in handcuffs, he recounted during the show. Upon questioning the agents, he was informed that they did not have a warrant initially, ultimately requiring an FBI agent to present the warrant via a cell phone.

As of now, both the Department of Justice and FBI have not commented regarding the arrest. Lemon's attorney has mentioned that he plans to plead not guilty to the charges. After being released, Lemon declared, “I will not be silenced”, highlighting his stance on freedom of the press.

A grand jury has indicted Lemon and several others for conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers during the protest on January 18 at the Cities Church in St. Paul, where a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official serves as pastor.

Lemon has clarified that he does not identify with the protest group, describing his presence as that of a journalist seeking to document events. He maintained that he was just observing and reporting, not participating in the disruption.

During the arrest, Lemon attempted to contact his husband and attorney but was told he could not make calls until the following day. He shared a concerning detail about a diamond bracelet causing discomfort while in handcuffs, which the agents agreed to return to his husband in his hotel room.

In a reflection on the current media landscape, Kimmel introduced Lemon as someone arrested for the act of journalism, emphasizing the ongoing tensions surrounding censorship and freedom of expression.