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Independent journalist and former CNN anchor Don Lemon defended his reporting on an anti-ICE protest inside a St. Paul, Minnesota church, saying he was there to document events, not participate, during an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Monday night.
"There is a clear distinction between protesters and journalists," Lemon told Kimmel in his first interview since being released without bail following his arrest last week.
Lemon was livestreaming with independent journalist Georgia Fort when demonstrators disrupted a January 18 worship service at Cities Church. Protesters alleged one of the pastors holds a senior position with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the Twin Cities.
Federal prosecutors charged Lemon and Fort with conspiring to violate constitutional rights and with violating the FACE Act, a law barring force or threats that interfere with religious practice.
Lemon said administration officials publicly called for his arrest, prompting him to hire legal counsel and attempt to surrender voluntarily through his attorney.
Instead, he said, federal agents arrested him at a Los Angeles hotel where he was staying while covering Grammy Awards events.
He described being jostled near an elevator, handcuffed, and briefly unsure who was arresting him until a warrant was presented.
Prosecutors allege the journalists joined a "takeover-style" disruption meant to intimidate congregants, claims Lemon strongly disputes.
After a court appearance Friday, Lemon was released without bail, though prosecutors sought bond conditions limiting contact and travel ahead of his arraignment.
First Amendment advocates argue the case risks chilling press freedom, while supporters across Hollywood voiced solidarity following his arrest.
On Kimmel's show, Lemon said the aggressive arrest felt designed to intimidate journalists and discourage coverage of controversial protests.
Legal experts have noted the charges are unusual and could prove difficult for prosecutors to sustain at trial.
