ATLANTA — In a dramatic turn of events at the ongoing YSL RICO trial involving rapper Young Thug, one of his lead attorneys, Brian Steel, was arrested and charged with contempt of court on Monday. The arrest occurred after Steel refused to disclose the source of his information regarding a private meeting held between prosecutors, Judge Ural Glanville, and a key witness, Kenneth Copeland.
Michael Seiden from WSB-TV reported live from the courtroom as Judge Glanville demanded Steel reveal how he learned about the undisclosed meeting, which took place earlier on Monday morning. The judge emphasized that Steel should not have had any communication with Copeland, a state witness who had been sworn in to testify. Judge Glanville initially gave Steel until 5 p.m. to comply, but Steel remained steadfast in his refusal, citing attorney-client privilege, even when facing contempt charges.
The courtroom tensions escalated further after Copeland, who had spent the previous weekend in jail for initially refusing to testify, took the stand on Monday. Despite his reluctant appearance, Copeland was reportedly evasive during questioning. Following a lunch break, Steel raised concerns about potential witness intimidation, claiming that prosecutors had informed Copeland he could remain in jail for the trial’s duration, possibly extending until all 26 defendants’ cases were resolved. Steel argued that such actions constituted coercion.
Adding to the legal challenges, Young Thug’s second attorney, Keith Adams, moved for a mistrial, highlighting the “violation of the sacrosanctness of the court’s chambers” and the ex parte conversation. Max Schardt, representing co-defendant Shannon Stillwell, echoed the call for a mistrial and requested a transcript of the meeting between the judge, prosecutors, and Copeland. Schardt emphasized the lack of his client’s presence during this meeting. Judge Glanville denied these motions, and proceedings have since resumed.
This arrest is the latest in a series of dramatic events that have characterized the YSL RICO trial. Previously, another defense attorney in the case was arrested on gang charges, and another was briefly handcuffed for bringing prescription medication into the courtroom. Additionally, nearly all public defenders involved in the case threatened to withdraw due to issues with insufficient compensation. These ongoing incidents underscore the high-stakes and contentious nature of the Young Thug YSL RICO trial, as legal proceedings continue to unfold in Atlanta.
