EXCLUSIVE: Lil Durk Fires Back At Feds Over

Lil Durk says prosecutors pushed their case through the media and now want to restrict his lawyers from answering publicly.

Lil Durk is fighting a federal gag order that could limit what he and his lawyers say publicly before his murder-for-hire trial.

The Chicago rapper’s attorneys filed their opposition, arguing that prosecutors have already pushed their version of the case through detailed indictments and Justice Department press releases.

Now, the defense claims the government wants to silence Lil Durk while its own allegations continue shaping public opinion.

“The government should not be permitted to throw rocks and then hide its hands,” his lawyers wrote in the filing obtained by AllHipHop.

As AllHipHop previously reported, prosecutors asked U.S. District Judge Michael Fitzgerald to restrict public comments about witnesses, evidence and the strengths or weaknesses of the case.

The government pointed to statements posted through Lil Durk’s Instagram account, interviews granted by his attorneys and comments made outside the courthouse. Prosecutors argued that the publicity could influence potential jurors and create a “circus-like environment.”

Lil Durk, whose legal name is Durk Banks, insists no court intervention is needed.

“Mr. Banks does not believe that a gag order is necessary,” his lawyers wrote. “Counsel for both parties are ethical and professional. The Court should deny the government’s motion as unnecessary and unripe.”

The defense also accused prosecutors of loading four indictments with material designed for media coverage, including photographs of masked gunmen, an allegedly tailed vehicle and an unreleased music video.

According to Lil Durk’s lawyers, some of that information may never reach the jury. However, they argued that its inclusion still helped create a public narrative of his guilt.

“The government has propounded a very public and very detailed narrative of Mr. Banks’ guilt, complete with a laundry list of purported evidence against him, some of which could never reasonably be expected to be admitted at trial,” the defense wrote.

His attorneys also singled out two Justice Department press releases that described the alleged plot in detail.

In its November 2024 announcement, the Justice Department quoted then-U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada calling the shooting a “cold-blooded murder” that endangered the public.

Lil Durk’s team argues that it would be unfair to let prosecutors make such public statements while preventing defense attorneys from declaring their client innocent or expressing confidence in his case.

“It would be unfair to hamstring the defense in a way that the government has not limited itself,” his lawyers wrote.

The defense still offered Fitzgerald an alternative. If the judge believes some restrictions are necessary, Lil Durk wants any order narrowly limited to comments about witnesses, character attacks and evidence already ruled inadmissible.

His attorneys oppose any restriction that would stop them from discussing the strength of the defense, questioning the government’s case or asserting Lil Durk’s innocence.

Prosecutors accuse Lil Durk of financing a 2022 attack targeting Quando Rondo following King Von’s death. Quando Rondo survived, but his cousin, Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson, was killed.

Lil Durk has pleaded not guilty and remains presumed innocent. Fitzgerald is scheduled to hear arguments over the proposed gag order on August 13.

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