Is Young Thug’s social media activity causing a roadblock in his RICO defense?
The Atlanta rapper recently had a court hearing in Georgia. A Tweet from Young Thug’s account last month could fuel the prosecution’s argument that he has “power” to communicate with people outside of jail and threaten witnesses.
Last month, on Thugger’s Twitter account, the tweet asked Olympian swimmer Michael Phelps if he could swim “100 miles from the middle of the ocean back to shore.” Michael responded, “I think I could make it.”
In a video from the court hearing, prosecutors argued Thug allegedly had a phone while behind bars. Brian Steel, Young Thug’s lawyer, told the judge someone wrote the “innocent tweet” on his client’s behalf.
In the video, Steel told Judge Glanville that the tweet about Michael Phelps is getting “investigated by the sheriff of that county. Steel said Thug asked the person who has control of his Twitter account to post it.
The judge disagreed, and said, “this is part of the state’s concern.” Stereo Gum reports Judge Glanville agreed that defense lawyers must now wait until November 25 to share specific “confidential” discovery with their clients.
In August, Young Thug was denied bond again for the third time. At the time, Steel said his client would be willing to “comply with a 24-hour home confinement.”
In May, Young Thug, Gunna, and 26 YSL members were indicted on RICO charges. Young Thug is believed to be the ring leader. The trial date is set for January 9, 2023.