The former Navy SEAL who claims he shot and killed Osama bin Laden says his prescription medication caused him to fall asleep in his car Friday morning before he was arrested for driving under the influence.
According to the Montana Standard, Robert O’Neill fell asleep behind the wheel of his vehicle about 2:30 a.m. Friday in Butte, Mont. He was woken by police officers opening the car door. The report stated police believed he appeared under the influence and he failed a field sobriety test.
O’Neill refused a Breathalyzer test and was taken to jail. He was later released after posting bond. He’s facing a charge of misdemeanor driving under the influence, according to the report.
O’Neill said in 2014 that he fired the shots that killed bin Laden during a SEAL Team Six raid on his compound in May 2011. Other SEALs have confirmed his statements, though another Seal Team Six member, Matt Bissonnette, wrote a book claiming he shot Bin Laden.
USA Today reported O’Neill said he had taken a prescribed sleep aid to deal with insomnia and was not drunk behind the wheel.
“The facts are that I took a prescribed sleep aide [sic] to help with long-standing severe insomnia,” O’Neill said in a statement to USA Today. “While the timing was bad and I highly regret this decision, I am innocent of the charge and have entered a plea of not guilty.”
He added, “I am confident I will soon be cleared of this matter.”
