CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi says protests by his supporters and the violent crackdown against them are “useless” in a recording of a private conversation with one of his lawyers that was leaked by security authorities eager to show the Islamist leader in a less defiant posture.

Morsi also asked his lawyer, Mohammed Salim el-Awah, for money to be deposited in his prison account for living expenses since he is not allowed visits by friends and family, according to the recording, excerpts of which were released by the privately owned Al-Watan newspaper.