Detroit mayor's legal team 'unprecedented'

DETROIT, July 21 (UPI) -- Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has assembled a legal team of unprecedented size as he battles corruption charges, legal experts say.

Analysts told The Detroit News Kilpatrick's defense team has included at least 17 public and private attorneys since last year when allegations of wrongdoing were first leveled. The newspaper said no one attorney is coordinating the efforts of the team as a whole.

The public attorneys have worked to help Kilpatrick keep secret crucial documents which might shed light on the mayor's alleged misdeeds, while outside attorneys have been hired to fight civil lawsuits, turn back citizens' recall efforts and torpedo the City Council's efforts to remove him from office, the News said.

Wayne County prosecutors charged Kilpatrick and former Chief of Staff Christine Beatty in March with conspiracy, perjury, obstruction of justice and official misconduct.