Young Thug's Attorney Found In Contempt In Latest Twist To Problem-Plagued Case

ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia judge has ordered a lawyer for rapper Young Thug to spend the next 10 weekends in jail after finding him in contempt.

Defense attorney Brian Steel represents the rapper, who is currently on trial in Atlanta on charges including violation of Georgia’s anti-racketeering and gang laws. Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville on Monday ordered Steel jailed after the lawyer refused to tell him how he found out about a meeting between the judge, prosecutors and a prosecution witness.

The dramatic move is the latest twist in a trial that has dragged on for over a year with no end in sight and has been plagued by problems.

Young Thug, a Grammy winner whose given name is Jeffery Williams, was charged two years ago in a sprawling indictment accusing him and more than two dozen other people of conspiring to violate Georgia’s anti-racketeering law. He also is charged with gang, drug and gun crimes and is standing trial with five of the others indicted with him.

Jury selection in the case began in January 2023 and took nearly 10 months. Opening statements were in November and the prosecution has been presenting its case since then, calling dozens of witnesses.

Steel addressed Glanville in open court Monday, saying he had been informed of a meeting in the judge’s chambers that morning and “made several claims regarding the sum and substance of the communication that the Court found troubling,” Glanville wrote in an order finding Steel in contempt and ordering him jailed.

Only the judge, a court reporter, prosecutors, an important state witness and that witness’ attorney were present for the meeting and Glanville expressed “serious concern with how this information was improperly disclosed” to