Don Lemon recounted his January arrest throughout a latest look on ABC’s “The View,” the place the famed journalist tearfully shared his expertise being taken into custody following protection of a Minnesota ICE protest.
The host of “The Don Lemon Present” on YouTube that boasts nearly 1.3 million subscribers, sat alongside panelist, former co-worker, and long-time good friend Sunny Hostin to debate the incident.
Don Lemon Tearfully Recounts January 2026 Arrest By Federal Authorities Throughout Go to To ‘The View’
On Thursday, April 2, former CNN anchor Don Lemon paid a visit to “The View” and spoke about his expertise being arrested in a Los Angeles lodge room days after doing on-the-ground protection of an ICE protest at a Minnesota church.
Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles whereas on the town to cowl the 2026 Grammy Awards, however his authorized crew tried to contact the Division of Justice beforehand when phrase unfold that the journalist can be arrested. Nevertheless, Lemon mentioned they had been ignored in favor of publicly embarrassing him.
“All they needed to do was [say] ‘Hey, Mr. Lemon, flip your self in,’” he mentioned.
Hostin agreed along with his evaluation of the DOJ favoring public embarrassment, stating they wished “to ship a message to intimidate and harass.”
“I’ve been leaning on Sunny for counsel simply as a good friend. No authorized stuff, however simply as a good friend,” Lemon mentioned whereas on the panel, including the DOJ selected to arrest him regardless of his willingness to show himself in “as a result of they wish to embarrass folks.”
The dialog took an emotional flip when Lemon teared up recalling how federal brokers taking off a marriage current from his husband was the one approach his arrest was identified.
“I used to be fidgeting with it, [and an agent] was like, ‘Would you like me to take that off?’” Lemon mentioned of the diamond bracelet given to him by his husband Tim.
“There was an FBI agent that walked as much as me and mentioned, ‘I’ll maintain it.’ I mentioned, ‘Give this to my husband…’ And he took it up. That was the one approach that anyone knew that I’d been arrested,” he shared.
Don Lemon Was Beforehand Arrested By Dozens Of Federal Brokers, Which Was Deemed ‘Wildly Extreme’
Whereas staying on the Beverly Hills Lodge throughout Grammy weekend, Lemon was taken into custody by greater than two dozen federal brokers, from each the FBI and Homeland Safety, in line with PEOPLE.
Per the outlet, Lemon was arrested round 11 p.m. native time in Los Angeles on the famed location, when brokers confirmed up at his lodge room door.
Following his arrest, a Division of Homeland Safety spokesperson issued a press release to the outlet concerning Lemon’s costs.
“Don Lemon is being charged with 18 USC 241, Conspiracy to Deprive Rights, and 18 USC 248, Violation of the FACE Act, interfering by power of somebody’s First Modification rights,” the spokesperson mentioned.
The overwhelming response to Lemon’s arrest was typically supportive, and when the variety of brokers available to arrest him was launched, the sentiment included what many consider to be a large overreach.
“That’s wildly extreme. That’s treating somebody like they’ve an assault rifle,” one commenter wrote in response to the PEOPLE particulars. “Two dozen closely armed to arrest one man, very cowardly,” added one other.
The Journalist Pled Not Responsible Throughout His February 2026 Arraignment
On February 13, Lemon appeared in a Minnesota federal court docket on costs stemming from his protection of an anti-ICE protest at a neighborhood church, which he was broadcasting stay for his on-line information program.
In keeping with NBC News, he stood in entrance of Justice of the Peace Decide Douglas L. Micko and entered a plea of not responsible on all counts. The choose additionally advised Lemon that he’s “free to journey except he had been to violate any state or federal legal guidelines.”
In the course of the listening to, the prosecutor within the case confirmed that Lemon’s cellphone was seized by authorities on the time of his arrest and a search warrant has since been obtained to analyze its contents.
Abbe Lowell, a member of Lemon’s authorized crew, mentioned that seizing the cellphone was an motion of doable “over-execution,” per the outlet.
Lemon Initially Spoke Out About The Arrest After His Launch From Custody
Following his January 29 arrest, Lemon was formally launched from custody after a brief court docket look on January 30, per The Hollywood Reporter. “He’s dedicated to preventing this case,” Lemon’s legal professional Marilyn Bednarski mentioned on the time.
U.S. District Decide Patricia Donahue allowed Lemon to be launched on a no cash bond.
In keeping with the 14-page indictment that was beforehand unsealed, Lemon “is charged with conspiracy and interfering with the First Modification rights of worshipers,” per the Associated Press.
Following his launch from custody, Lemon stood exterior the courthouse earlier than the media and issued a short assertion.
“I’ve spent my total profession masking the information. I can’t cease now. There isn’t any extra vital time than proper night time to cowl the information…I can’t cease now. I can’t cease ever. I can’t be silenced, I look ahead to my day in court docket,” Lemon mentioned.
The White Home Mocked Lemon’s Arrest On Social Media
In a post on X, previously often known as Twitter, the White Home brazenly mocked the award-winning journalist. A black-and-white photograph of Lemon from the Minnesota ICE protest was posted with the caption, “When life offers you lemons,” alongside an emoji of chains.
Per Deadline, Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. and the CEO of the Middle for Nonviolent Social Change, supplied a blistering but easy response to the submit that many deemed racist.
King referred to the message for example of “immaturity, poor style, and fascism.”
