Pooh Shiesty’s former attorney criticized an alleged video leak showing the rapper reportedly pressing Gucci Mane for a contract release.
The footage, which surfaced Wednesday (July 1), appears to show an individual believed to be Gucci Mane wearing a yellow sweatsuit while attempting to leave a confrontation. During the encounter, another person is seen displaying what appears to be a Draco-style rifle as Pooh Shiesty allegedly pressures Gucci Mane to state on camera that he is releasing the Memphis rapper from his deal with 1017 Brick Squad.
In a now viral video, Cohen accused federal prosecutors of selectively leaking evidence they believe strengthens their case.
“I think it’s pretty nasty work that there are leaks coming from the U.S. Attorney’s office in Texas,” Cohen said. “On evidence that they feel will benefit their case. Of course, they’re not leaking evidence that will not benefit their case.”
Despite the video’s circulation, Cohen maintained that it does not undermine the legal arguments he previously made while representing Pooh Shiesty.
“It does not negate my argument—my legal argument that I made at the bond hearing—of whether or not this is a kidnapping case,” he said. “The legal definition of federal kidnapping does not meet this.”
According to Cohen, the alleged recording shows an attempt to obtain a release from a recording contract, but he argued nothing ever came from it.
“The benefit that they are having in this video is allegedly his getting out of a contract, which he never got out of and never used. Nothing ever happened from it,” Cohen continued. “So it does not change my argument that this is a federal kidnapping charge. They didn’t prove anything with the cellphones that they allegedly used. All of these different things are out of the federal realm of charging a crime.”
Cohen also pointed to what he views as inconsistencies between prosecutors’ allegations and the leaked footage, noting that while authorities previously claimed Pooh Shiesty possessed an AK-47-style weapon during the incident, the rapper does not appear to be holding a firearm in the video.
Cohen initially represented Pooh Shiesty after his arrest in April before withdrawing from the case several weeks later. At the time, he said his decision to step aside was unrelated to his confidence in the defense, adding that he believed the attorneys taking over the case were well-equipped to represent the rapper moving forward.
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