DETROIT, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Lawyers representing Detroit political consultant Sam Riddle in his corruption trial have asked to be removed from his case, court documents show.
A mistrial was declared last week in Riddle's trial for bribery and extortion, in which he was represented by John Minock and Edward Wishnow. Both have filed motions with U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn to be taken off the case, the Detroit Free Press reported Monday.
"There has been a breakdown of the attorney-client relationship to the extent that the undersigned should no longer represent defendant," Minock wrote in his motion.
Wishnow, appointed to help Minock review large amounts of evidence from wiretapped phone calls, said "a second attorney is no longer required on a retrial because those complexities no longer exist."
Both attorneys were court-appointed, the Free Press said.
In Riddle's trial, prosecutors alleged he and ex-Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers extorted money from people in return for her influence on the City Council.
Conyers pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced in March.
