Don Lemon Says Dozen Federal Agents Came to Arrest Him Despite Offer to Surrender
Former CNN anchor faces charges over coverage of anti-ICE church protest
Lemon told ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel that sending the agents was a waste of resources because law enforcement would not have had to dispatch agents to follow him if he had been allowed to surrender.
The charges stem from Lemon coverage of an anti-ICE protest that disrupted a Minnesota church service. Federal prosecutors have charged him with civil rights violations.
The case has drawn attention to the administration aggressive prosecution of those connected to immigration enforcement protests.
Analysis
Why This Matters
The high-profile arrest of a former major network anchor signals the administration aggressive stance on prosecuting protest-related activities.
Background
Lemon left CNN in 2023 and has continued media work independently. The church protest incident occurred in January 2026.
What to Watch
The trial proceedings and whether other journalists face similar charges for protest coverage.