Timberlake's Lawyer Asserts Pop Star Was 'Not Intoxicated' During Arrest
Justin Timberlake’s attorney has declared that the pop star was “not intoxicated” at the time of his arrest last month for allegedly driving under the influence. The 43-year-old musician was pulled over in New York after running a stop sign and veering out of his lane.
In Timberlake’s initial court appearance on Friday, his lawyer, Edward Burke, argued that the police had committed “a very significant number of errors” in handling the case. “The most important fact to know about this case is that Justin was not intoxicated and should not have been arrested for DWI,” Burke emphasized.
Speaking outside Sag Harbor Village Justice Court, Burke stated that Timberlake “respects law enforcement” and had fully cooperated with the officers. However, he maintained, “the fact remains, he was not intoxicated and they made an error in arresting him for it. We are confident that this charge will be dismissed.”
Timberlake did not attend the hearing due to the kickoff of his Everything I Thought It Was world tour, which began at the Tauron Arena in Krakow. He is scheduled to be re-arraigned virtually next month.
Following the arrest, the Sag Harbor Police Department released Timberlake’s mugshot, sparking widespread media coverage.
The incident occurred in Sag Harbor, a celebrity-favored summer spot in the Hamptons on Long Island. According to the charging document, officers noted that Timberlake’s eyes were “bloodshot and glassy” and detected a “strong odor of an alcoholic beverage” on his breath. His speech was reportedly slow, and he did not perform well on sobriety tests administered by the officers. Additionally, he refused to take a breathalyzer test.
“I had one martini and I followed my friends home,” Timberlake reportedly told the officer, according to CBS News.
Timberlake has been open in the past about seeking help for excessive drinking. In New York, driving while intoxicated can lead to penalties such as up to a year in jail, a $1,000 fine, and the suspension of a driver’s license for at least six months.
