Don Lemon Says Federal Agents Arrested Him to 'Embarrass' and 'Intimidate' Him

Don Lemon is pushing back on his arrest by federal authorities, saying agents wanted to make an example of him.

The former CNN anchor appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live Monday night, his first public comments since being detained last Thursday for alleged involvement in an anti-ICE protest at a Minneapolis church. Lemon says he was there reporting as an independent journalist.

According to Lemon, he offered to turn himself in beforehand, but federal agents chose to detain him anyway.

"It had to be maybe a dozen people, which is a waste, Jimmy, of resources, because I told them weeks before... that I could just go in," Lemon told Kimmel. "They want to embarrass you, they want to intimidate you, they want to instill fear. And so that's why they did it that way."

Lemon faces two federal charges: 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. His attorney has said he plans to plead not guilty.

His next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 9 in Minneapolis.