The Lil Durk case has been controversial so far when it comes to its public notoriety, threats tied to the trial, and online debate. As such, prosecutors in the case reportedly want to keep their information as secret as possible before his murder-for-hire trial begins next week.
According to an exclusive AllHipHop report from Grouchy Greg Watkins, federal prosecutors asked Judge Michael Fitzgerald to seal their witness list after a Thursday (August 13) hearing. This follows reports caught by No Jumper on Instagram about prosecutors indicating they have 35 witnesses ready to testify in the case, with 20 of these reportedly being key to the trial.
Also, this follows the revelation that some of Lil Durk's music will be evidence in this proceeding. This includes the "Piss Me Off" song and music video, as well as lyrics from "Back Again," "Still Trappin'," and "Redman."
As for the seal request, prosecutors reportedly didn't name any witnesses or offer a safety explanation, simply asking for a seal "until further order of the Court." We will see if Judge Fitzgerald agrees or reveals the witness list sooner.
How Long Could Lil Durk Be In Jail?
The reason why prosecutors want to seal the witness list before trial is because of threats that emerged against judges and the court ever since the Chicago rapper's 2024 arrest. These include threatening voicemails and public statements. Amid defense lawyers rejecting accusations that Durk threatens or endangers witnesses, investigators found no connection between him and these threats.
"Evidence collected in this case also shows defendant has allegedly placed monetary bounties to solicit other murders, including a family member of a witness," prosecutors reportedly alleged. "Defendant’s modus operandi is clear: he will use his power, his money, his influence, and any pretrial release to endanger anyone who he perceives as a threat, including witnesses in this case."
If convicted, Smurk could face life in federal prison. More recently, conflicting reports emerged about cellphone evidence being used in trial, as it's unclear if investigators were able to find the information they sought. Also, it seems like the court rejected prosecutors' request for a gag order in this case.
