Joe Budden's Lawyer Fires Back After 'Lewdness' Charge

On December 30, the Edgewater Police Department issued a statement announcing that Joe Budden had been charged with lewdness.

According to the police, doorbell camera footage allegedly captured a naked Budden repeatedly attempting to enter a code into his neighbor's door keypad before returning to his own apartment across the hall. In a formal complaint, the neighbor reported witnessing Budden's actions live via their phone's video feed, along with their two children.

In the statement, Chief Donald Martin emphasized that the charges are merely accusations, and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Joe Budden, podcast host, is scheduled to appear in court this month.

According to a press release issued by the Edgewater Police Department on Monday, December 30, the 44-year-old was charged on December 4 after a neighbor reported seeing him "completely naked" in the hallway. The incident was allegedly captured on a doorbell camera.

Authorities responded to the scene after receiving a call from Budden's neighbor at approximately 7:21 a.m. The neighbor claimed that Budden was seen "attempting to enter a code into the door keypad several times before reentering his own residence across the hall."

The charges were filed "on a complaint summons," and Edgewater Police Chief Donald A. Martin emphasized in the release that "these charges are merely accusations," adding that Budden is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

As the legal drama surrounding Budden's lewdness charge unfolds, the rapper and media personality’s lawyer is now fighting back against the allegations.

Attorney Nima Ameri, representing Budden, issued a strongly worded statement on New Year’s Eve, calling the Edgewater Police Department's press release "inflammatory and slanderous."

“It is important to clarify that Mr. Budden was never arrested, and the incident referenced was a result of a well-documented medical condition known as sleepwalking — a condition that Mr. Budden has a long and public history of,” Ameri said.

The attorney described Budden as “the real victim” in this situation and revealed that his client has filed several criminal cross-complaints related to the incident. Ameri further alleged that the police have failed to address these complaints in a timely manner.

In a sharp critique of the authorities, Ameri also suggested that racial bias played a role in Edgewater Police Chief Donald A. Martin’s decision to issue a public press release about the charge.

“Had Mr. Budden not been a prominent Black voice for his community, we do not believe such a press release would have been issued over these mediocre allegations,” the attorney said. “We are confident that a review of Edgewater Police records will show no precedent for issuing a press release about a white individual charged with a disorderly person’s offense before their court date.”

Ameri also released a statement to TMZ, explaining, "Mr. Budden is saddened by Police Chief Martin's press release. 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," she began.

"The Chief has in our opinion sat on those but instead used his time to gain some free publicity for himself. Chief Martin should seek publicity by doing notable policing not inflaming disorderly person allegations," the attorney added.

"The allegations against Mr. 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. The Chief's comments are reckless," Ameri continued. "Our research has not shown a single press release on a disorderly person charge on the police website this year."

In the December 29 episode of "The Joe Budden Podcast," the show was noticeably not filmed in its usual setting—Budden's apartment. The host explained that the local government no longer permits filming in those buildings, hinting at ongoing tensions tied to his current legal situation.

Addressing the alleged hallway incident directly, Budden offered his perspective, admitting, “I just sleepwalked somewhere that I shouldn't have sleepwalked. That's what happened.” He also acknowledged his habit of sleeping “butt-ass naked,” adding a candid layer to his explanation.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Budden remarked, “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.”