This week on Legally Us, Rachael Bennett, certified family law specialist and senior attorney for Sullivan Law & Associates, breaks down whether or not Justin Timberlake can stop the Sag Harbor Police Department from releasing bodycam footage from his 2024 DWI arrest.
On Monday, March 2, Timberlake, 45, filed a lawsuit stating that he wants an order from a Suffolk County Supreme Court judge to prevent the public dissemination of footage from his traffic stop on June 18, 2024, arguing that it “constitutes an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.”
Timberlake took legal action after a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was filed by members of the media in an effort to obtain the recording.
“Justin Timberlake can try to block the release of the bodycam footage, but under the Freedom of Information Law Act police video is generally considered public record, so that means that the default is disclosure unless a really specific exception applies,” Bennett tells Us. “I would say his strongest argument would be privacy concerns or claiming that the release could interfere with an ongoing case.”
In June 2024, Timberlake was pulled over at the American Hotel and was charged with driving while intoxicated. He ultimately pleaded guilty to driving while impaired following his arrest in the Hamptons. This development came after a judge signed off on his plea deal to officially drop Timberlake’s DWI charge, instead leaving him with a traffic violation.
His attorney, Michael De Piano, is now claiming that releasing this footage “would cause severe and irreparable harm” to Timberlake’s “personal and professional reputation” and subject him “to public ridicule and harassment.”
“This was a roadside stop on a public street, so the expectation of privacy is fairly limited,” Bennett tells Us. “He may be able to exclude anything that was medically sensitive or anything that could be considered a public humiliation concern, but also considering that a plea deal has already been worked out here, I would say realistically, a judge is more likely to allow redactions to the videos, like blurring faces or removing personal details rather than just completely sealing the footage altogether.”
She adds, “At this point, he’s doing damage control and just trying to control his reputation.”
Per his plea deal, Timberlake was ordered to complete 25 to 40 hours of community service with a nonprofit of his choosing and pay a $500 fine.
He was also required to issue a public safety announcement.
For a full legal recap, watch the video above.
