Don Lemon says DOJ won’t silence him amid charges talk: ‘Make me into the new Jimmy Kimmel’

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Don Lemon struck a defiant tone after a federal judge dismissed charges against him tied to an anti-ICE protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, insisting the legal setback would not deter his journalism.

The former CNN host, 59, appeared on his Thursday, January 22, night YouTube show where he acknowledged the dismissal was not the end of the matter. Reports have suggested the Justice Department could pursue alternative legal avenues, a possibility Lemon said he is prepared for.

Don Lemon says he is ‘not going anywhere' 

Addressing the case directly, Lemon said he felt vindicated but cautious. “I stand proud, and I stand tall. This is not a victory lap for me, because it’s not over,” he said. “They’re going to try again, and they’re going to try again. And guess what? Here I am. Keep trying.”

Speaking directly to the DOJ, Lemon argued that any renewed effort would fail to silence him. “That’s not going to stop me from being a journalist. You’re not going to diminish my voice,” he said. “Go ahead. Make me into the new Jimmy Kimmel if you want.”

“Just do it, because I’m not going anywhere,” Lemon added, framing the case as an attempt to intimidate reporters rather than enforce the law.

Lemon further alleged the matter was rooted in authority, not accountability. “This is not about justice. This is about power,” he said. “And it’s about people who are incompetent. It’s not about justice.”

Harmeet Dhillon, the Justice Department’s assistant attorney general for civil rights, responded briefly to Lemon’s remarks on X, posting a single word: “Okay.”

Don Lemon questions Pamela Bondi’s reaction

On his show, Lemon also criticized Attorney General Pamela Bondi, who he said was believed to be “enraged” following the judge’s decision to dismiss the charges.

“I’m just surprised that someone like Pam Bondi would be angry for someone doing their job, someone abiding by the law,” Lemon said. He questioned why an official would object to a lawful judicial outcome unless the case was being used as leverage.

“Why would you be angry about that unless you were trying to use it as a weapon, rather than to seek the truth and justice?” he added. “You may not like justice, but when justice is served, it is served.”

Don Lemon’s lawyer vows to fight any future charges

Lemon has maintained that he attended the protest solely in a professional capacity to report on events as 30 to 40 anti-ICE demonstrators entered the church to confront its pastor, David Easterwood, who is believed to be a Minneapolis ICE official.

His attorney, Abbe Lowell, echoed that position in a statement to Fox News Digital, saying the dismissal reinforced Lemon’s First Amendment protections.

“The magistrate’s reported actions confirm the nature of Don’s First Amendment-protected work this weekend in Minnesota as a reporter,” Lowell said. “It was no different than what he has done for more than 30 years, reporting and covering newsworthy events on the ground.”

Lowell added that if the DOJ continues its efforts, Lemon will challenge them in court. “Should the Department of Justice continue with a stunning and troubling effort to silence and punish a journalist for doing his job, Don will fight any charges vigorously and thoroughly,” he said.