Marathon Pundit: Kevorkian attorney Geoffrey Fieger indicted for illegal 2004 Edwards contributions

Noted Michigan defense attorney Geoffrey Fieger and his law partner were indicted today for making illegal contributions to the 2004 presidential campaign fund of John Edwards. A fixture of cable news shows, Fieger is best known as the man who defended Dr. Jack Kevorkian for breaking Michigan's assisted suicide law.

From the Detroit Free Press:

The indictment was unsealed today at the U.S. District Court in Detroit, accusing Fieger and Vernon Johnson of violating the $2,000 per election federal limit on individual contributions to presidential candidates. The indictment accuses them of soliciting "straw donors" to also contribute the $2,000 maximum to Edwards and then reimburse them for their contributions.

Fieger, the area’s most famous and flamboyant attorney, and Johnson are accused of disguising the payments to the straw donors by treating them as employee bonuses or as payment to third-party vendors. They are accused of conspiracy, making and causing conduit campaign contributions, causing false statements and obstruction of justice.

Edwards has another key Michigan tie. His campaign manager is former Detroit area congressman David Bonior.

Fieger is the older brother of Doug Fieger, lead singer of late 1970s pop-rock group The Knack.

UPDATE Sat. Aug 25 12:15 PM CDT: The Fighting GOP has more:

Well, Dr. Death’s attorney, Geoffrey Fieger, got caught red-handed and was just indicted for "allegedly" orchestrating $150,000 of illegal campaign contributions to John Edwards…and what does he say to the media?

"He blamed the Bush administration."

“Fieger told radio station WWJ-AM that he would fight the charges and wasn’t surprised by them. He blamed the Bush administration. "'We'll just embarrass these people,' Fieger said."