ALBANY, N.Y. - Several lawyers say they have formed a coalition to support Joseph Bruno, the former state Senate leader accused of using his public post to enrich himself by $3.2 million, and the indictment against him is flawed.

The group's chairmen are defense attorneys Stephen Coffey and E. Stewart Jones Jr. Its eight other members include Patricia DeAngelis, former district attorney in Rensselaer County, Bruno's home base.

Coffey describes as puzzling the federal theft of honest services charge against the former Republican leader, who was indicted after a three-year investigation. Coffey calls the prosecution unwise and unwinnable.

Calls to the federal prosecutors were not immediately returned Thursday. They have convicted others under the 20-year-old statute.