{"id":2563439,"date":"2026-02-03T08:28:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T13:28:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/don-lemon-tells-jimmy-kimmel-he-offered-to-turn-himself-in-ahead-of-arrest\/"},"modified":"2026-02-03T08:29:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T13:29:23","slug":"don-lemon-tells-jimmy-kimmel-he-offered-to-turn-himself-in-ahead-of-arrest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/don-lemon-tells-jimmy-kimmel-he-offered-to-turn-himself-in-ahead-of-arrest\/","title":{"rendered":"Don Lemon tells Jimmy Kimmel he offered to turn himself in ahead of arrest"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdon-lemon-tells-jimmy-kimmel-he-offered-to-turn-himself-in-ahead-of-arrest%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2563439&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Don Lemon, the former CNN anchor, said on Jimmy Kimmel Live that he offered to turn himself in weeks before his arrest related to a Minnesota anti-ICE protest at Cities Church in St. Paul.He alleges federal agents detained him to embarrass him and that his attorney had tried to arrange a surrender; he also said there was no warrant shown when agents grabbed him on an elevator. Lemon, who described himself as acting in his rights as a journalist, was arrested January 29 in Beverly Hills at the direction of Attorney General Pam Bondi and charged with conspiring to disrupt a church service and violating the FACE Act. The Justice Department had initially sought arrest warrants but later dropped them after judges rejected the charges; Lemon was released without bail after an initial appearance. the protest, which involved at least nine people arrested, occurred at Cities Church in St. Paul on January 18,and the case centers on issues of free speech and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-justice-department-pick-helped-kill-pipeline-favored-by-key-senator\/\" title=\"Biden ... Pick Helped Kill Pipeline Favored by Key Senator\">federal civil rights law<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Don Lemon tells Jimmy Kimmel he offered to turn himself in ahead of arrest<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2492420\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Former CNN anchor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/don-lemon\/\">Don Lemon<\/a> said he offered to turn himself in prior to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4440345\/don-lemon-arrested-by-federal-officials-over-minnesota-church-ice-out-protest\/\">his arrest<\/a> last week but was detained by federal agents to &ldquo;embarrass&rdquo; him.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I had told them weeks before, maybe once or twice, that we would,&rdquo; Lemon said. &ldquo;I think my attorney tried to contact them once, maybe twice, that I could just go in and it would have to be the folks who were just working there that day.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4442983\/march-social-security-direct-payment-up-to-994-out-24-days\/\">March Social Security direct payment worth $994 goes out in 24 days<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4443301\/divisions-and-legal-threats-handicap-redistricting-bid-by-maryland-democrats\/\">Divisions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/divisions-and-legal-threats-hit-maryland-democrats-gerrymander\/\" title=\"Divisions and legal threats hit Maryland Democrats&#039; gerrymander\">legal threats handicap redistricting bid<\/a> by Maryland Democrats<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4443502\/democrats-trust-gap-trump-approval-2026-elections\/\">Democrats struggle with midterm credibility despite anti-Trump backlash<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Lemon discussed his arrest for partaking in a protest at a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/minnesota\/\">Minnesota<\/a> church with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel on Monday night, appearing as the headlining guest.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It had to be maybe a dozen people, which is a waste, Jimmy, of resources,&rdquo; Lemon said about his arrest at a Beverly Hills hotel. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s more than just a waste of resources. They want that. They want to embarrass you. They want to intimidate you. They want to instill fear.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Lemon was arrested Jan. 29 at the direction of Attorney General Pam Bondi. He was charged with <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >committing federal civil rights crimes<\/a> for his presence at an anti-ICE protest at a church in St. Paul.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Anti-ICE protesters entered Cities Church on Jan. 18, claiming the pastor was an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. They interrupted the service and chanted &ldquo;ICE out&rdquo; because they believed a pastor was connected to the federal agency.<\/p>\n<p>Lemon is among at least nine people who have been arrested in relation to the protest.<\/p>\n<p>The Justice Department had dropped its original arrest warrant requests for Lemon and others involved in the protest after two federal judges had rejected the charges.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Lemon was <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4441794\/don-lemon-released-from-custody-without-bail-after-court-appearance\/\">released without bail<\/a> after his initial appearance at a Los Angeles courthouse. He maintains that he was acting within his rights as a journalist and condemned the arrest as a violation of free speech by the Trump administration.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Recounting his arrest, Lemon said his attorney had reached out to federal authorities to arrange for him to turn himself in, but he never heard back.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Lemon also said authorities grabbed him as he was stepping onto an elevator. He said he then asked the agents to identify themselves.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I said, &lsquo;If you are who you are, then where is the warrant?&rsquo; And they didn&rsquo;t have a warrant,&rdquo; Lemon said. &ldquo;They had to wait for someone from outside, an FBI guy, to come in to show me a warrant on a cellphone.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4442000\/minnesota-judge-refuse-block-operation-metro-surge-minneapolis\/\"><strong>MINNESOTA JUDGE REFUSES TO BLOCK OPERATION METRO SURGE IN MINNEAPOLIS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Lemon was charged with conspiring with protesters to disrupt a church service and for violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.<\/p>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4427495\/what-is-face-act-federal-charges-minnesota-church-protest\/\">FACE Act<\/a>, frequently used in abortion clinic cases, makes it illegal &ldquo;to injure, intimidate, or interfere&rdquo; by using &ldquo;force, threat of force, or physical obstruction&rdquo; against anyone who is &ldquo;exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/religious-freedom\/\">religious freedom<\/a> at a place of religious worship.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lemon says he offered to turn himself in before arrest<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2563440,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26030863958925.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[36251,55945,72706,43710,72707],"class_list":["post-2563439","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-entertainment-news","tag-headlines-2","tag-i-cant-help-create-tags-that-promote-an-unverified-claim-about-a-real-person-here-are-neutral-tags-you-can-use-instead-don-lemon","tag-jimmy-kimmel","tag-late-night-interview"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26030863958925.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2563439","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2563439"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2563439\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2563443,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2563439\/revisions\/2563443"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2563440"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2563439"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2563439"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2563439"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}