Attorney Drew Findling Defends Lil Durk Amid Federal Legal Battle

Attorney Drew Findling used a public appearance at the 2026 Summer Smash music festival in Chicago to defend rapper Lil Durk and share that police officers have approached him to say “Free Durk.” Findling expressed unwavering confidence in the artist’s ability to overcome federal murder-for-hire charges as the legal proceedings continue.

During an interview with journalist Dometi Pongo on June 14, Findling highlighted what he described as broad community support for the Chicago rapper, whose legal battle remains pending in federal court. “I have people come to me off the streets, going ‘Free Durk, Free Durk,'” Findling said. “I have law enforcement officers walking up to me saying ‘Free Durk.'”

The remarks appeared aimed at underscoring the rapper’s standing in his hometown and beyond. Findling characterized the artist as a self-made success story who built a career from Chicago’s South Side and later earned Grammy recognition. “Durk comes from Chicago. He’s self-made. He was a Grammy Award winner,” Findling noted. “He was deeply involved in the community service, right here in his city.”

The veteran defense attorney also pointed to support from local elected officials and community members, arguing that federal prosecutors brought charges against an individual who had established a positive reputation through philanthropy and civic engagement. “He had local politicians supporting him. He had people in the community supporting him,” Findling added.

Regarding the current state of the litigation, Findling suggested that the defense team has achieved favorable results throughout the process, stating, “We have been defeating them on so many legal issues.” While he did not identify specific rulings, the comment appeared to reference ongoing disputes over evidence, procedure, and pretrial matters.

When asked about the likelihood of a favorable outcome, Findling declined to discuss legal odds, instead emphasizing his commitment to defending clients. “Everybody that’s known me for years and years and years knows I’m 24/7,” Findling said. “You call me 3 in the morning, I’m at the police station. I’m in it to win it, and we’re gonna win it.”

The federal charges against Lil Durk remain pending, with the trial scheduled to begin in late 2026.