Taxpayers will cover the cost of defending the law partner of Jason Williams who, like the Orleans Parish district attorney-elect, faces tax fraud charges. Nicole Burdett told a federal magistrate judge Monday she could not afford her own lawyer, and the judge approved a public defender to represent her.Michael Magner, a noted white-collar defense attorney, was already representing Burdett after she and Williams were indicted in June, accused of inflating business expenses so their law firm could pay less taxes. Magner is among the attorneys who handle cases for the local federal public defenderâs office, and U.S. Magistrate Judge Dana Douglas approved his appointment Monday. Burdett was back in court after new charges were filed against her last week for allegedly falsifying her personal tax returns. Magner has called the charges against Burdett selective and vindictive. Burdett and Williams deny any wrongdoing and say the cases against them are politically motivated. They blame Henry Timothy, who they hired to handle their tax filings, for tax calculations that led to federal charges. Williams said the Internal Revenue Service was already investigating Timothy when it launched a separate probe into his taxes.Williams scored a resounding win in the Dec. 5 runoff for district attorney against Keva Landrum. He will succeed Leon Cannizzaro, who Williams has long implied is behind the federal investigation into his taxes. Cannizzaro has brushed off claims of his involvement. Williams will be sworn into office Jan. 11 and has already picked a transition team.