rick perryIndicted Texas Gov. Rick Perry has added crisis PR guru Mark Fabiani to his robust legal defense.

"As we move forward to protect the Texas constitution and the First Amendment rights of any governor, I am confident this prosecution will be revealed to be contrary to the law and wholly meritless," Fabiani said in a statement released by Perry's office.

Perry, a likely presidential candidate, faces two felony counts of coercion of a public official and abuse of official capacity related to him pressuring a local district attorney, who pleaded guilty to drunk driving, to resign. He has orchestrated a forceful PR response to the grand jury indictment, from an Aug. 18 press conference to a smirking mug shot.

Fabiani, who will advise Perry's legal team led by attorney Tony Buzbee, is a partner in the California crisis shop Fabiani & Lehane and previously advised Lance Armstrong, Chipotle and the Sultan of Brunei's hotel group. He is a former crisis manager and spokesman for President Bill Clinton.

Fabiani said: "I'm proud to join Gov. Perry's outstanding team which has been assembled to fight back against this attack on the rule of law."