Young Thug's lawyer arrested for refusing to reveal source who warned of 'coercion and witness intimidation'

On Monday, a lawyer representing Young Thug in his Georgia YSL RICO case was arrested and held in contempt of court for refusing to divulge how he found out about an alleged private conversation between the judge, prosecutors from Fulton County DA Fani Willis' office, and a star witness, Kenneth "Lil' Woody" Copeland. Brian Steel was ordered out of the court room by Judge Ural Glanville, leaving the rapper, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, without representation.  

Given that Copeland refused to testify on Friday despite being granted immunity, Steel alleged that the conversation amounted to "coercion [and] witness intimidation." The lawyer's subsequent removal has led many, including Steel himself, to call for a mistrial. He said that it took place between district attorneys from Willis' office, Copeland, and others. 

"I'm kinda disturbed because that's ex parte, all that was an ex parte conversation," Glanville said after Steel revealed what he knew. "How did you find out about any of that?"  

Steel did not answer, and instead cited a case in which Georgia's highest court ruled that defendants have a right under the state constitution to be present in such circumstances. He slammed Glanville for suggesting knowledge of the conversation was "proprietary," insisting that if it took place, he should have been included. 

The lawyer said that he was told Copeland "supposedly announced he's not testifying and he'll sit for two years and ... this court supposedly said I can hold you until the end of this trial. Ms. Hilton supposedly said actually all of the defendants, and then all 26 people are disposed of." 

"If that's true," he continued, "What this is, is coercion, witness intimidation, ex parte communications that we have a constitutional right to be present for. I understand that you're upset towards me, but I don't know what I did." 

Glanville gave Steel five minutes to change his mind about naming the source, but the lawyer refused. Before being led out of the room, he addressed Glanville once more. 

"Mr. Williams does not wish to go forward without me being here," he said. "You are removing me against his will, my will; you are taking away his right to counsel. You're conducting parts of this trial without me present, and I can't learn about it while watching online, so for that reason additionally, I ask for a mistrial." 

Glanville denied his request, and he was removed, as Williams looked on. As USA Today reports, the rapper was charged with six felonies under the state RICO act in 2022, accused of co-founding a gang and promoting it via his music.