The defense attorney for Grammy-winning Atlanta rapper Young Thug was arrested and held in contempt of court on Monday during the complex and historic racketeering trial.
Driving the news: Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville said attorney Brian Steel violated court regulations by obtaining information about a private meeting between Glanville, prosecutors and witness Kenneth Copeland, 11Alive reports .
- Steel was taken into custody after he repeatedly refused to tell Glanville how he heard about the meeting.
Catch up quick: Two years have passed since Jeffery Williams, who raps as Young Thug, and 27 others were arrested and accused of criminal street gang activity. Only six people are still on trial after plea deals and severances.
- Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis alleges that Williams used his Young Slime Life music group to conceal murders, robberies, drug dealing and other crimes. Williams says YSL is just a music label.
Friction point: WSBTV reports that Steel and Keith Adams, Williams' second attorney, called for a mistrial.
- Max Schardt, an attorney for co-defendant Shannon Stillwell, also said the trial should be halted until they obtain a transcript of the private meeting. Glanville denied the motions.
What they're saying: At 7:33pm, Glanville said Steel will have to spend his weekends behind bars at Fulton County Jail, beginning Friday, June 14, until Sunday, Aug. 18, for a total of 20 days in custody.
- Glanville said he would tell Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat to allow Steel to continue meeting with Williams during his jail period.
The intrigue: Attorney Ashleigh Merchant, who represents one of former President Trump's co-defendants in Georgia's election interference case , appeared in court on Monday evening to defend Steel in her role as president of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
What's next: Steel plans to appeal Glanville's criminal contempt order.
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