Justin Timberlake’s lawyer has argued the singer was “not intoxicated” when he was arrested last month for allegedly driving drunk.
- READ MORE: Justin Timberlake – ‘Everything I Thought It Was’ review: sullied superstar gets trapped in the typical
As was reported by AP at the time, the singer was in Long Island, New York when he was accused of driving under the influence on June 18. Per a statement from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, Timberlake was expected to be arraigned in Sag Harbor, on the eastern end of Long Island.
Following a subsequent appearance in court, the ‘Rock Your Body’ star was released without bail and was only charged with a “single count” of driving while intoxicated because he “refused the breath test” when he was arrested.
Ed Burke Jr, Timberlake’s lawyer, who previously vowed to “vigorously” defend him as false drug use claims swirled on social media, reiterated that Timberlake was not drunk in a hearing at the DWI case yesterday (July 26).
“He was not intoxicated. I’ll say it again. Justin Timberlake was not intoxicated,” he said, per The Independent. “And we are very confident that charge, that criminal charge, will be dismissed.”
Burke also added that the officers responding to the incident “made a number of very significant errors in this case”, and that Timberlake “cooperated” fully: “From the second he was ordered out of his car to the second he was charged.”
He noted that the police, “like every one of us, make mistakes”. Timberlake was not present for the hearing related to his arrest, but initially addressed it after resuming his tour in Chicago last month, saying it had been a “tough week”.
During his set, he thanked fans for their support, saying: “We’ve been together through ups and downs, lefts and rights. It’s been a tough week, but you’re here and I’m here, and nothing can change this moment right now.”
He continued before wiping a tear off his cheek: “I know sometimes I’m hard to love but you keep on loving me and I love you right back.”