Young Thug’s Lawyer Compares Himself To Civil Rights Leaders In Court

The presiding judge was seemingly amused by Steele’s assertion.

September 12, 2024 2:11pm

Paras Griffin/Getty Images

The YSL RICO trial is the gift that keeps on giving, in terms of awkward and shocking developments. The latest occurrence during the trial to garner attention is attorney Brian Steele‘s belief that he’s a Civil Rights leader, which the lawyer expressed during Wednesday’s (Sept. 11) proceedings.

At one point during the hearing, an activist speaking on Young Thug‘s behalf stated that she didn’t see “any other civil rights leaders” in the courtroom, an assertion that Steele, Young Thug’s attorney, visibly objected to.

Steele’s reaction prompted a chuckle from Judge Paige Whitaker and the activist, with the latter apologiizing to Steele for not acknowledging his seeming efforts at restoring and ensuring “civil rights” for his clients and others.

Paras Griffin/Getty Images

Seemingly amused, Judge Whitaker responded to Steele’s interjection. “Alright, well, Mr. Steel feels himself to be a civil rights leader,” she stated, with the activist resuming her attempt to persuade Whitaker to grant Young Thug access to electronic privileges during his incarceration.

The courtroom drama in the YSL RICO trial continues to unfold as key testimonies and evidence are presented. Recently, a significant development occurred when YSL Woody, a defendant in the case, took the stand and recanted his prior statements implicating Young Thug in criminal activity.

In August, Woody testified that he had previously lied about having knowledge of Young Thug’s alleged criminal exploits in an attempt to appease law enforcement.

Young Thug attends the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center on October 01, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET

“This is what happened. The police kept locking me up for whatever they could,” Woody told the court at the time. “Every time I come out the door, the police was on me, and they keep bringing up Thug’s name. So, what I did was, to get ’em off me, I said, ‘Thug did this. Thug did that. Thug,’ because I knew they were—I knew he didn’t do it.”

He went on, adding, “In my mind, I knew that the police would never go mess with him [Young Thug]. So, it was easy for me to try to throw the blame off on him, to get them off of me. And that’s what I was doing from all these years. I don’t remember what I done told them in the past, but my whole motive was Thug did it because I knew he didn’t do it, and they couldn’t lock him up.”

See footage of Brian Steele at Young Thug’s YSL RICO trial below.

An activist seeking electronics privileges in Young Thug’s trial said today she didn’t see any other “civil rights leaders” in court.

Young Thug’s lawyer Brian Steel took exception.

“Alright, well, Mr. Steel feels himself to be a civil rights leader,” Judge Paige Whitaker said. pic.twitter.com/jyqDJM6q1e

— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) September 11, 2024

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