"This is an indictment born of political ambition," lawyer Richard A. Sprague told reporters. "It reeks of malice."

Sprague described U.S. Attorney Patrick L. Meehan, who was appointed by President Bush, as a political operative who loaded Fumo's indictment with "twists and distortions, venal and salacious entries, deliberate statements out of context."

Meehan's spokesman called Sprague's comments "inaccurate and regrettable."

Sprague's harsh words came on the same day that Fumo resigned from an influential post: a seat on the Delaware River Port Authority, which runs the PATCO line and regional bridges.

Fumo is charged with fraud, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice on a grand scale - using state Senate staff and funds from a neighborhood charity to support an opulent lifestyle and then orchestrating a cover-up after the FBI started asking questions.

In all, prosecutors say Fumo (D., Phila.) misused more than $2 million in public money and funds from the charity he helped create, Citizens' Alliance for Better Neighborhoods. Fumo's influence gained the charity $30 million from Peco Energy, the DRPA, and state grants.

Fumo, whose personal worth exceeds $20 million, is accused of using the charity's money to pay for political polls, cars, power tools, farm equipment, personal errands and shopping sprees.

Among the most sensational allegations is that Fumo used people on the Senate payroll to clean his house and spy on ex-girlfriends and political opponents.

If convicted, Fumo likely faces two to four years in prison, and perhaps as many as 10 years.

Sprague, one of the city's most prominent lawyers, convened yesterday's news conference at his Rittenhouse Square law office a day after his client, one of the most powerful politicians in Pennsylvania, pleaded not guilty.

Sprague offered a glimpse into Fumo's defense against the obstruction-of-justice charges - that the senator directed a cover-up by ordering aides to destroy e-mails after he learned of the FBI investigation.

Fumo did nothing wrong, Sprague said. The senator's office simply followed a longstanding "document retention" policy that called for the office to routinely clear computers of old e-mails.

"Mr. Meehan knows that when Citizens' Alliance was under investigation, Sen. Fumo went and sought advice from a lawyer - not me - on whether he had to change his policy. . . . That lawyer told Sen. Fumo, 'No, you don't have to change your policy because you haven't been subpoenaed. . . .' "

The 81-year-old lawyer, a former prosecutor who rarely holds news conferences, spoke for 75 minutes yesterday but refused to answer specific questions about Fumo's spending and use of staff.

Instead, he mostly mocked Meehan and his case:

On using Senate workers for personal tasks:

". . . Ask yourself: What is to prevent someone who is devoted, dedicated to their boss, Vince Fumo, to knock themselves out and, beyond their Senate time, do activities that make his time more efficient and make him more effective as a state senator?"

On using Senate workers for political tasks:

"How is it that Vince was able, as everybody concedes, to be the most effective senator Philadelphia has ever had? By just sitting in his office, or by doing political activity, anywhere, everywhere?"