Bruce Springsteen pleads guilty to public drinking – but prosecutor drops DWI charge

KEY POINTS

• A federal prosecutor dropped charges of drunken and reckless driving against rock legend Bruce Springsteen on Wednesday.
• The musician pleaded guilty to a charge of drinking alcohol in a national park, however, NBC News reported.
• Jeep had paused a Super Bowl ad with Springsteen following news of his arrest, but said later Wednesday "we are unpausing the film."

Bruce Springsteen performs at a sound check at the Perth Arena in Perth, Australia.

Will Russell | Getty Images

A federal prosecutor dropped charges of drunken and reckless driving against rock legend Bruce Springsteen on Wednesday.

But the musician pleaded guilty to a charge of drinking alcohol in a national park late last year, NBC News reported.

After the drunken driving charge was dropped, Jeep told CNBC that it would unpause a Super Bowl commercial it had made with Springsteen: "Now, that the matter has been resolved, we are unpausing the film." 

News of the incident had prompted Jeep to "pause" the commercial "until the actual facts can be established."

Springsteen, 71, was arrested in November at Gateway National Recreation Area in New Jersey, also known as Sandy Hook, the U.S. Department of the Interior said earlier this month.

The arrest was made minutes from Springsteen's home in Colts Neck.

"I had two small shots of tequila," Springsteen told a federal magistrate in a virtual arraignment Wednesday morning, according to local Jersey outlet The Daily Journal.

The charges of driving while intoxicated and reckless driving were dropped after prosecutors said they did not believe they could sustain their burden of proof. Springsteen's level of intoxication at the time was reportedly .02, well under the legal limit, NBC reported.

The federal judge, after commenting on the lack of violations on Springsteen's driving record, imposed a $540 fine.

"I think I can pay that immediately, Your Honor," Springsteen said in the hearing, according to NBC.

Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama revealed this week that he and Springsteen were launching a podcast together, entitled "Renegades: Born in the USA."

Spotify on Monday released the first two episodes of the podcast, which feature the 44th president and the all-star musician discussing a range of topics from Springsteen's home in New Jersey.

— CNBC's Megan Graham contributed to this report.