**Justin Timberlake Sues to Block Release of Police Body Cam Footage from Hamptons Drunken Driving Arrest**
*NEW YORK —* Pop star Justin Timberlake is suing to block the release of police body camera footage related to his 2024 drunken driving arrest in New York’s Hamptons.
Timberlake’s lawyers filed a lawsuit Monday against the Village of Sag Harbor and its police department, arguing that releasing the video would “devastate” Timberlake’s privacy by revealing “intimate, highly personal, and sensitive details.” They also contend that it would cause “severe and irreparable harm” to his reputation by subjecting him to “public ridicule and harassment.”
“The footage at issue depicts Petitioner in an acutely vulnerable state during a roadside encounter with law enforcement, capturing intimate details of Petitioner’s physical appearance, demeanor, speech, and conduct during field sobriety testing, the subsequent arrest, and Petitioner’s confinement following arrest over the next several hours,” the lawsuit states.
A hearing was held Monday in state court in Riverhead, but Judge Joseph Farneti did not issue an immediate ruling, according to Vincent Toomey, a lawyer representing Sag Harbor. Instead, the judge asked both parties to confer on a potential resolution and report back later in the week.
Timberlake’s lawyers have not yet responded to emails seeking comment.
The NSYNC singer turned solo artist and actor pleaded guilty to impaired driving in September 2024. Police reported that Timberlake ran a stop sign in the village center, veered out of his lane, and exited his BMW smelling of alcohol that June.
The Tennessee native told officers he had consumed one martini and was following friends home in Sag Harbor—a former whaling village among the affluent beach communities of the Hamptons, about 100 miles east of New York City.
As part of his plea deal, Timberlake agreed to give a public safety announcement warning against the dangers of drunken driving. This agreement reduced his initial misdemeanor charge to a noncriminal traffic violation.
He was sentenced to a $500 fine, 25 hours of community service, and a 90-day suspension of his driver’s license.
“Even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car,” Timberlake said following his court appearance. “This is a mistake that I made, but I’m hoping that whoever is watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake. I know that I certainly have.”
According to the lawsuit, Timberlake’s legal team was informed Sunday that village officials intended to release portions of the footage with some redactions to comply with public records requests. The total footage reportedly runs approximately eight hours and includes Timberlake’s initial stop, police questioning, field sobriety tests, and arrest.
The Associated Press was among several media outlets that submitted public records requests seeking the release of the video.
Sag Harbor Mayor Thomas Gardella stated that village officials have carefully reviewed the footage to ensure it does not jeopardize police safety or public security.
“We’re trying to be as transparent as can be with this footage,” Gardella said, noting that New York’s public records law generally mandates the release of police body camera footage.
https://abcnews.com/Entertainment/wireStory/justin-timberlake-sues-block-release-police-video-2024-130697955