Less than a month after he was charged with lewdness, Joe Budden shared some details about the incident, which occurred inside his New Jersey apartment building.
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People reported that according to the Edgewater Police Department, the rapper was charged on Dec. 4 after a neighbor claimed they saw him “completely naked” in the hallway of their apartment building.
The witness also alleged that they saw him “attempting to enter a code into the door keypad several times before reentering his own residence across the hall.”
In a statement, Edgewater Police Department Chief Donald A. Martin said the charges are “merely accusations.” He also noted that Budden is “presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Buden is to appear in court later this month for the incident.
During the Dec. 29 episode of his podcast, Budden spoke about what happened. He claimed he had just sleepwalked somewhere that he shouldn’t have sleepwalked.
“That’s what happened,” he said, noting he sleeps “butt-a**” naked. “I did it again. Nobody could go through this stuff but me. It’s only me… So, you gotta deal with what comes with that.”
Joe Budden’s Attorney Publicly Reacts to the Lewdness Charge, Statement Made By the Edgewater Police
Meanwhile, Joe Budden’s lawyer, Nima Ameri, also responded to the lewdness charge in a statement to TMZ.
“Mr. Budden is saddened by Police Chief Martin’s press release,” Ameri stated. “Mr. Budden has been waiting weeks for his cross complaints to be processed, which include substantially more serious charges, including possible felony charges against the persons behind these charges against him.”
Ameri then said the chief of police has “sat” on cross-complaint processing. She noted that he used his time to “gain some free publicity for himself.”
“Chief Martin should seek publicity by doing notable policing,” Ameri continued. “Not inflaming disorderly person allegations.”
Ameri further pointed out that the allegations made against Budden are a minor charge, not even resulting in an arrest.
“A charge Mr. Budden is looking forward to beating in court on the merits, not in the press,” she declared. “The Chief’s comments are reckless. Our research has not shown a single press release on a disorderly person charge on the police website this year.”
“We hope that Chief Martin is now satisfied with his moment in the spotlight,” Ameri then added. “And will refocus on his efforts on his actual police duties, ensuring justice for Mr. Budden, who is the real victim in this matter.”