Photo by Gretchen Villaluna Baria /Moonhouse Productions
Following his arrest and extradition to Austria in a case that alleges sexual assault, Freddie Gibbs has been formally charged in Austrian court. Gibbs was initially arrested in France this past June after allegations were raised against the Gary, Indiana rapper stemming from a 2015 incident. In response to the charges Gibbs' attorney, Theodore Simon, has issued a statement vehemently denying any and all wrongdoing, noting that Gibbs has complied with all requests and is not fleeing the judicial process. You can read that below.
"While Freddie Gibbs was charged with an offense today, it remains only an allegation, and it does not in any way change the actual facts that Freddie Gibbs is 100% innocent.He continues to pursue every available means to demonstrate that he is absolutely innocent and that he has been both belatedly and wrongly accused. As the investigation and process continues, Mr. Gibbs remains hopeful that a thorough, searching and complete investigation will reveal the actual facts, including the absence of any scientific, physical, or credible evidence implicating him, thereby paving the way for his exoneration and return to his family and one-year old child. In accordance with Austrian procedure Mr. Gibbs has not as yet had the opportunity to provide the authorities and the Court with the substantial and compelling exonerating evidence that he has compiled.
Consistent with the available legal practices and procedures in Austria, Mr. Gibbs will ask the Court to release him on bail, under reasonable terms and conditions, as was done in France.
Through counsel Mr. Freddie Gibbs has consistently remained fully cooperative with law enforcement offices and judicial systems in both France and Austria and will continue to do so.
The hip-hop figure had first claimed innocence when the case was made public in June, with another lawyer named Michael Malka saying at the time that Gibbs "categorically denies the allegations made against him by Austria and is even very surprised that Austria is taking this on a year later, just as he is on tour in Europe."
