This is weird. Less than a month ago he was fighting to have the guy stay on. What gives?

In a surprise move, indicted State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo yesterday asked his lawyer and friend, Richard A. Sprague, to withdraw from his defense.

Fumo, who fought all summer against the government’s attempts to disqualify Sprague, changed course and decided the law firm’s potential conflicts might hurt his defense after all, a spokesman said.

Fumo, 64, faces 139 federal felony counts. He is charged with using Senate employees for personal and political tasks and with defrauding the South Philadelphia charity Citizens’ Alliance and the Independence Seaport Museum.

Fumo made the request just three weeks after winning a major ruling that would have allowed Sprague to stay on the case.