The Young Thug YSL RICO trial took another dramatic turn on Monday when Brian Steel, one of Young Thug’s attorneys, was arrested and charged with contempt of court. This incident unfolded in an Atlanta courtroom and further intensified the already high-stakes legal battle surrounding the rapper and his co-defendants.
The arrest of Steel occurred after he refused to disclose how he learned about a private meeting held earlier that day. This meeting reportedly involved prosecutors, Judge Ural Glanville, and Kenneth Copeland, a key witness in the YSL trial. Michael Seiden from WSB-TV reported live from the courtroom as Judge Glanville demanded Steel reveal his source of information regarding the meeting. The judge emphasized that Steel should not have had any contact or information regarding a state witness who was sworn to testify.
The core of the issue revolved around a “secret” meeting, as described by Steel. Judge Glanville had given Steel a deadline of 5 p.m. to divulge his source. However, citing client-attorney privilege, Steel stood firm and refused to provide the information, leading to the contempt of court charge and his subsequent arrest. Video footage captured Steel removing his jacket before being taken into custody, highlighting the seriousness of the courtroom proceedings.
Kenneth Copeland, the witness at the center of this controversy, had himself been jailed over the weekend for refusing to testify on Friday. He eventually took the stand on Monday but was reportedly evasive in his responses. Following a lunch break, Steel raised concerns that prosecutors had informed Copeland he could remain in jail for the entirety of the trial, potentially until all 26 defendants’ cases were concluded. Steel argued that such actions constituted “coercion and witness intimidation.”
This arrest prompted immediate reactions from other defense attorneys. Keith Adams, Young Thug’s second attorney, moved for a mistrial, emphasizing the violation of confidential court proceedings due to the ex parte conversation. Max Schardt, representing co-defendant Shannon Stillwell, echoed this sentiment and also called for a mistrial, demanding a transcript of the meeting in question. Judge Glanville, however, denied these motions and resumed the proceedings.
This recent event is just the latest in a series of dramatic occurrences during the YSL RICO trial. Previously, another defense lawyer in the case was arrested on gang charges. Other courtroom incidents have included an attorney being handcuffed for bringing prescription medication into the courtroom and another having his laptop seized. The trial has also faced potential disruption due to public defenders threatening to withdraw due to inadequate compensation. These ongoing issues underscore the tense and complex nature of the YSL RICO trial, with the arrest of Young Thug’s lawyer adding another layer of intrigue and legal wrangling to the proceedings.
