The accused tax-cheat husband of Westchester District Attorney Jeanine Pirro will act as a lawyer on his high-powered legal team, newly filed papers reveal.
Albert Pirro, who is fighting charges he failed to report more than $1 million in income, filed the surprise legal notice in White Plains yesterday, just as jury selection in his case began.
Albert Pirro, a wealthy real-estate lawyer, has already retained two well-heeled defense attorneys, Gustave Newman and Robert Giuffra, to defend him.
But now the embattled businessman wants to pitch in personally, and filed the required legal notice for the unusual move.
Albert Pirro’s spokeswoman, Colleen Roche, said he is an experienced litigator admitted to practice in federal court in New York.
“He intends to actively participate with his legal team in his own defense,” Roche said.
Albert Pirro, 52, is accused of hiding huge sums of money by buying personal items – including a sports car for his wife – and charging them as business expenses.
Federal prosecutors say the suburban power-broker got his younger brother, Anthony, an accountant, to help him in the scheme. Both are facing trial.
The brothers have publicly sniped at each other since the charges were filed last year.
Albert branded Anthony a cocaine-dependent gambler, while Anthony, 45, said his brother had been treated at a psychiatric hospital.
The trial could have political repercussions for state Republicans if Mayor Giuliani decides to drop out of the Senate race while he undergoes treatment for prostate cancer.
Jeanine Pirro has long been seen as the most likely candidate to replace him, but GOP insiders say she will be tapped only if her husband is cleared.
Opening arguments in the trial are scheduled to begin May 10.