In a dramatic turn of events, the ongoing racketeering trial of rapper Young Thug took an unexpected twist when the judge held the musician's attorney in contempt. The incident occurred after the attorney, Brian Steel, refused to disclose how he learned about a private conversation between the judge, prosecutors, and a star witness, Kenneth Copeland. This revelation led to a heated exchange between Steel and Judge Ural Glanville, resulting in Steel being escorted out of the courtroom.

The controversy began when Copeland, who had spent the weekend in jail for refusing to testify under the Fifth Amendment right, suddenly changed his mind and took the witness stand on Monday. However, during his testimony, he appeared evasive, prompting Steel to raise concerns about a potential coercion tactic used against Copeland by the prosecution. Steel alleged that Copeland had been reminded by prosecutor Simone Hylton that he could be held indefinitely until all 26 defendants had their cases resolved.

Amidst the courtroom tensions, Steel repeatedly refused to disclose his source of information regarding the private meeting, leading Glanville to hold him in contempt. Glanville emphasized the seriousness of the leaked information, calling it a violation of the sanctity of the judge's chambers. Despite the ongoing controversy, Glanville made it clear that the trial would proceed as scheduled.

However, Young Thug's other attorney, Keith Adams, expressed his unwillingness to continue without Steel present. Glanville firmly told Adams that he did not have the luxury of halting the proceedings and instructed him to defend his client. The heated exchange continued as Glanville emphasized that the court could not be extorted.

Meanwhile, Defense Attorney Max Schardt, who represents defendant Shannon Stillwell, requested the release of the transcript from the morning meeting to ensure fairness in the trial. Schardt argued that all parties involved in the trial, not just the state and the witness's attorney, should have been included in the conversation. Glanville dismissed the request, stating that the appellate court would address such matters during the review process.

After several breaks, Glanville allowed Steel to return to the courtroom but indicated that he would still hold him in contempt. Steel was given the opportunity to purge the contempt charge by revealing his source of information. Steel, in turn, requested a separate hearing to discuss the details of the meeting.

It is worth noting that Steel is not the first attorney in the case to face legal consequences. In April 2023, defense attorney Anastasios Manettas was arrested for carrying prescription medication through a security checkpoint, resulting in his release on a $5,000 bond.

The trial against Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, revolves around allegations that he is the leader of the criminal street gang known as "Young Slime Life," responsible for various criminal activities, including robberies, retaliatory shootings, and multiple homicides. The trial, which began with jury selection in January 2023, has been marred by delays, juror issues, and numerous days off, leading to just over 87 days of actual proceedings thus far. Testimony from less than 80 out of approximately 200 witnesses has been presented.

As the trial continues, the contempt controversy surrounding Young Thug's attorney adds another layer of intrigue and uncertainty to an already complex legal battle.