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In the ongoing RICO trial against rapper Young Thug, his attorney, Brian Steel, found himself in legal hot water on June 10.
Steel confronted Judge Ural Glanville and the prosecution over an alleged clandestine meeting with Kenneth Copeland, an important witness in the case, which he described as potentially coercive.
"If that’s true, what this is is coercion, witness intimidation, ex parte communications that we have a constitutional right to be present for," Steel argued in court, insisting that disclosing his source would breach attorney-client protections and “work product” privilege.
Despite the judge's insistence for transparency, Steel remained steadfast, leading to his contempt charge and subsequent jailing.
Steel will now face 20 days in jail, to be served over consecutive weekends.
Amidst this legal maelstrom, he expressed his commitment to Young Thug's defense, stating to 11Alive's Neima Abdulahi, "I've had the pleasure of defending Williams for approximately a decade. I know his family, I've defended him in courtrooms multiple times."
He emphasized that Young Thug's public persona as a rapper does not mirror his real-life character, likening it to professional wrestling where "They are performers. They're performing all the time."
The trial has gripped the legal and entertainment communities alike, with over twenty lawyers rallying in support of Steel outside the courtroom.
As the case unfolds, all eyes are on the dramatic proceedings that could potentially see Young Thug facing up to 120 years if convicted on all charges.
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