Ex-congressman plans insanity defense in fraud case

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- An ex-congressman charged with swindling banks and clients out of $10 million plans to plead innocent by reason of insanity.

An attorney for former U.S. Rep. Edward M. Mezvinsky filed notice Tuesday in U.S. District Court of an intent to raise a mental health defense in the case.

EXTRA INFORMATION FindLaw: Criminal indictment of former U.S. congressman Edward M. Mezvinsky  (PDF)

Attorney Mark E. Cedrone told U.S. District Judge Stuart Dalzell in the filing that Mezvinsky would raise the insanity defense based on a long history of mental illness and said his client's conduct can be explained as "a classic textbook illustration of manic phase bipolar disorder."

"The indictment in this case portrays a sad tale in which many lives were adversely affected. Mr. Mezvinsky does not contest many of the facts alleged in the indictment," the notice states.

Mezvinsky was indicted in March on many counts of fraud and related charges.

"Essentially, Mr. Mezvinsky takes the position that even though he may have engaged in much (although not all) of the conduct attributed to him in the indictment, he did not manifest criminally culpable intent," the notice states.

Mezvinsky represented a district in Iowa from 1973 to 1977. He is married to former U.S. Rep. Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky, D-Pennsylvania, who served from 1993 to 1995.

Cedrone said the illness affected his client's judgment, blinding him from the risks associated with a financial scheme that Mezvinsky allegedly entered into with con artists from Africa. He said Mezvinsky's mental problems were exacerbated by anti-malaria drug Lariam, which Mezvinsky apparently took on business trips.

"Mr. Mezvinsky is not raising a Twinkie-like defense. It is true that Lariam may very well have had an impact on the precipitation and exacerbation of Mr. Mezvinsky's pre-existing, serious mental illness. Lariam may also have caused Mr. Mezvinsky to become locked in the manic and uncontrollable behavior at issue in this case," the notice said.