Don Lemon recently recounted the night he was arrested and the events that followed. He also alleged that the agents didn’t have a printed copy of the warrant and that they denied him the right to make a phone call. Lemon said that he believed that it was an attempt to “embarrass, intimidate, and instill fear.”
Don Lemon talks to Jimmy Kimmel about his arrest
The former CNN correspondent recently appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. There, he detailed the events of his arrest, which happened on January 29, 2026.
Lemon began explaining that he had attended the pre-Grammy parties and was on his way to his room. “I pressed the elevator button and all of a sudden, I feel myself being jostled and people trying to grab me and put me in handcuffs,” he said.
The 59-year-old said that he demanded to know who they were. When they identified themselves, he asked for his arrest warrant. He went on to explain that the agents didn’t possess an arrest warrant at the time, and that they had to wait until an FBI agent arrived with one. He alleged that the warrant was on a cellphone rather than a physical copy.
The Don Lemon Tonight host also described the incident as “a waste of resources” since he had earlier agreed to “turn himself in.” Earlier in the show, he admitted to learning about the rumors about his impending arrest, after which he “retained” an attorney. But when his attorney reached out to the respective department, he said that they did not receive any response.
Lemon emphasized that the arrest was “a waste of resources.” He added that he believed that they were trying to “embarrass, intimidate, and instill fear.”
The former Today host explained that the authorities placed him in a holding room. He then alleged that they denied his right to his “one phone call.” However, he said that he eventually managed to convince an FBI agent to deliver his belongings to his husband. That is how his husband learnt about the arrest. A judge ordered his release the next day, following Lemon’s personal recognizance bond (via NBC).
The authorities arrested Lemon for his alleged involvement in disrupting a church service during an anti-ICE protest. It happened in St. Paul, Minnesota, on January 18, 2026. He faced charges of conspiracy against the rights of religious freedom at a place of worship and injuring, intimidating and interfering with the exercise of the right of religious freedom at a place of worship.
