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Subscribe to RSSBryan Huffman, interior designer and friend of 101-year-old heiress Rachel 'Bunny' Mellon, testified that Mellon didn't condemn Edwards after finding out the money she provided to Andrew Young went toward Edwards' personal problem. NBC's Lisa Myers reports.
The 101-year-old heiress who funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to help John Edwards cover up his extramarital affair thought the whole operation was "foolish" but was having a "wonderful time," the middleman in the payments said Friday.
The witness, Bryan Huffman, was an interior designer for Rachel "Bunny" Mellon, the centenarian heiress to the Mellon banking fortune who was a major supporter of Edwards' 2008 presidential campaign.
Through Huffman, Mellon gave Edwards aides $725,000 to help conceal the candidate's fling with campaign videographer Rielle Hunter, falsely labeling the checks as furniture purchases made by Huffman.
The checks were known inside the campaign as "Bunny money," Huffman testified at Edwards' trial in U.S. District Court in Greensboro, N.C., where he is charged with six felony counts of accepting about $1 million in illegal and unreported campaign donations from Mellon and another wealthy supporter.
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"She said that we were awfully foolish with the 'furniture business'" — so called because Mellon wanted to hide the payments from her lawyer, who thought she had already given enough money to Edwards, Huffman said.
"But we were having a wonderful time doing it," he said.
In fact, Mellon didn't mind that Edwards was having an affair, Huffman said. But she was irked at times because "she thought that you should probably pay for your girlfriend yourself."
Eventually, Mellon's outlook turned to loud disapproval when Andrew Young — a top assistant to Edwards and now his chief accuser — asked her for $40 million to $50 million to start a foundation after his presidential bid collapsed in January 2008.
Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards has faced public and private challenges throughout his life and career.
"She was rather apoplectic at the size of the request," Huffman said, quoting her as having said, "I cannot believe that the senator wanted me for my money all along."
Edwards called her later and smoothed things over with Mellon by denying he knew how much Young had asked for, which in turn annoyed Young.
"Just call me throw-me-under-the-bus Andrew," Huffman quoted Young as having said.
Mellon isn't expected to testify, but the manager of her estate, Alex Forger, was called to the stand Friday afternoon and testified that when he learned what the "furniture" checks were really for, he was told "that's the way they wanted it."
"The money was for the senator's special need," Forger said.
Prosecution and defense lawyers agree that John Edwards lied repeatedly to hide his affair. The legal wrangling is over whether he crossed the line and did something criminal. NBC's Lisa Myers reports from Greensboro, N.C.
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The hobbies of the rich...I would have settled for traveling or badminton.
Bunny has too much munny.
It's really sad to see how Edwards ruined himself in such a sordid manner. He was such a big promise for the Democrats. What a Shame!
The money could have been used for a candidate that had a little bit of common sense. How can he be so stupid as to have an affair, and father a child while his wife was dying?
He is no different than Gingrich
How can you have an estate manager named "Forger"?
That's like having a barber named 'Manson' give you a shave ...
Circumspectly Yours,
Kind of like investing your money with someone named "made off" Madoff.
The barber's name is NICK!
It all also might be called an example of the benefits of"Trickle down economics."
It sounds like everyone knew this was not money for the campaign, so the election finance fraud charges would seem to be dead. About the only thing they could get Edwards on is a tax charge for not declaring these gifts from Bunny to support his mistress on his tax return.
This budhead ,peace off crab fooled around while his wife had cancer and was fighting to stay alive and supported him,there are two more like him Gingrich and that old fart the so called hero Mc Cain they had no moral and left their sick wifes dying,and got some younger ones,and that are the people that seek the White house job, good thing it does not happen.
As a public service I have made the following form letter available for those seeking higher office:
Dear Bunny Mellon:
I'm thinking of having an affair with a P.Y.T. while my dying wife stands by my side and I fool the public into thinking I'm a great guy.
I understand you find these matters amusing, therefore I would like to pleasure you by asking for say... a million dollars? Big weekend coming up with mistress and I want to party like its 1999.
Please mark checks "Vacation expense". No need to let U.S. Law get in the way of good times.
Thanks in advance.
Sincerely yours (not),
(Future political candidate - insert name here)
It's too bad he could not be more open about the affair. If his wife had cancer, then she might not have been able to take care of her wifely duties, in which case, she should be understanding that her husband has needs, and allow him to stray a little.
"wifely dutes" what planet do you live on? Better yet, what century? Have you heard of "for better or worse". Geeze you are a real loser.
How about "in sickness and health, til death do us part"?
ROFL .... troll mission accomplished.
Are you a Republican? You sure sound like one.
What is wrong with you? What an idiotic thing to say. Perhaps you're going for the shock factor?
Me, slightly right, but not very far. No... It seems nobody here watched Barney, "Caring means sharing" People listen. Marriage is like flying a plane, there is a minimum airspeed to keep it in the air. I'd say his wife Liz wasn't giving it enough throttle, so Mr. Edwards went out and found someone who would give it a little more throttle, keeping his marriage afloat. Nothing wrong with that. You got a wife that keeps up with the spice, great, stay loyal, she falls behind, no shame in getting a side dish, ya feel me???
I guess you've been lucky enough to never have experienced a life threatening illness - the last thing on one's mind is fulfilling "wifely duties"! How out of touch and lacking in understanding and compassion can anyone be!
I'm sorry Susie Cue did I miss the story about Edwards divorcing his wife after she got sick? Ya know like Newt Gingrinch did. Oh that's right I didn't miss the story because it didn't happen.
Wifely Duties? DUTIES? Does that not mean sex isn't fun any more? That, to keep the peace, you perform your duties?
What duties? Why should you have to "do them" when you aren't in the mood? What about your partner begin to start thinking of you and lay off! Duties, indeed!
Duties, indeed.
The female partner should never be referred to as only an object that will supply sex.
They're also teriffic at making sandwiches and fetching beer.
You ladies don't have to thank me; I'm just giving credit where it's due.
What exactly is not clear about marriage vows or did this dog have his fingers crossed behind his back as he stood with Elizabeth in front of God and man to proclaim "in sickness or in health..."
quoting her as having said, "I cannot believe that the senator wanted me for my money all along." Really, Edwards is a user he cares for no one but himself, he proved that by cheating on his wife while she died of cancer. The lowest of the low. The foolish and their money are soon parted.
No way. He was thinking of his wife by having the affair and not bothering her during that stressful time. He is quite the selfless gentleman if you ask me. Why does evyone view him a such a poor light. The man had needs, his wife was pretty selfish for just focusing on the cancer and not thinking of her husband at all. If anyone needs to be put in a poor light it's her.
Love the sarcasm, Chirs150!
One can only hope it is sarcasm.
Just trying to stand up for the poor guy, he was cheating for a reason. His wife for some lame reason was not making him want to stay.
I don't know, stories like these just make me mad. Like poor ex-govenor Arnold, his wife never told him she was sorry she made him want to stray. Did she ever think about him, NO. Well there is my two cents.
Chris150 -- He is not poor and he doesn't need anyone standing up for him. He needs to take responsibility for dropping his drawers while married.
I wouldn't feel you if you tried paying me to. Quoting you -- "made him want to stray" and "making him want to stay" -- are loads of hogwash! You can't MAKE anyone do anything unless you threaten them with violence. Marriage is nothing more than a legal contract between two people. Sex may or may not be a part of the contract and in some marriages it is not part of the contact at all. Fidelity in most US marriages is more than likely part of the agreement even in sexless marriages. Don't like the contract don't sign on the dotted line.
Ms. Edwards before she died should have taken him to court and reamed him for putting her life in danger by his infidelity. Bringing home an STD, cold, flu or or any other usually harmless "bug" with a compromised immune system would have immediately endangered her life! Too bad she didn't throttle his throttle.
Chris you are an a@@, I bet with your attitude the women flock to you. Sure can tell you think with the small head on your body too. It would be great if your prostrate needs to be removed and your woman then will get to go elsewhere because of your lame excuse to not perform your manly duties.
Hey, gramgigi.....
Google "Tongue In Cheek", then re-read Chris' posts.
You've been duped.
(Speaking of selfish women, Chris, how about Nicole Brown Simpson? Do you think any funds from her estate were put aside to replace OJ's nice glove after she so thoughtlessly got her blood all over it? I think not.)
All I've been to Bunny Mellon's house as an Assessor in Virginia - her dogs ate off of Sterling Trophies - pretty much of a mess
This is how the rich live - total disregard
I believe her that she couldn't care an iota where her money went - she just adopted another dog - and a cute one at that
This story gets more disgusting by the day.
Still no evidence any of the money was campaign money..Affairs and lying are not crimes
True.
But still, Edwards is the Newt Gingrich of the democrat party.
Total lying self-important maggots both.
Nevada, you got that right, Edwards is the Newt Gingrich and the John Mc Cain also,these two maggots were playing the same game,when their wifes got very sick they left them to dy and went after some younger ones with money.
So if was only Bunny Money that supported Hunter then no laws were broken? Its obvious Bunny knew what the money was for; def not campaign money. Was there more coming from somewhere else? On another note....cheating on your wife is a cr*appy thing to do especially one that is terminally ill. He should go to prison for being terminally stupid.
Unfortunately stupidity isn't a crime.
Someone can give you a gift $725,000 and you don't have to declare it?
How about tax evasion? I bet he did not report the Bunny Money as income, so if it was not income (even if a gift you have to report it if it is over $11,000), then it has to be campaign donations. Either way, it has to be something. Money can't just come out of thin air. This whole thing is so sleazy, and who on this planet believes he didn't know anything about it? Really?
If I was Elizabeth Edwards, I would have stayed with him until the end. And just as I took my dying breath, I would have grabbed a revolver from under my pillow and blown his "cheating parts" away!
He would be just another politician with no balls....no morals....maybe he could still become President. Someone should have told him that he cheats after he gets in the WH....duh?
Timmy22...."Someone can give you a gift $725,000 and you don't have to declare it? "
If I received such a gift you can bet I'd declare it.
"I do declare that is one nice gift!!"
Thank You....Thank You....I'll be in town all week.
What a piece of work this guy is, wife dying of cancer, having an affair and a child with another woman, and asking yet another woman for money to cover it all up, then lying to everyone until they story broke, then he had to admit to his duplicity.
And he wanted to be president? Can you imagine the s-storm this guy would have wrought on the U.S? He makes our current idiot-in-chief look good, how scary is that?
Edwards would still have made a better president than our current idiot-in-chief. that's the really sad part. And to think there are people stupid enough to want another 4 years of this misery, empty promises, and blaming those on the other side of the aisle. Let alone the race baiting and class warfare.
Our current President stands head and shoulders above John Edwards in both character and integrity, but fools like you two are too dumb to recognize the difference between a real man and a sleazy phony like John Edwards. If you want to see a real idiot, take a look in the mirror.
Yep, no getting around it: Edwards is a first class scumbag.
The Newt Gingrich of the democrat party. Newt couldn't shoot one past the goalie and knock up his goomah, but other than that they're two identical maggots from the same pool of pus.
Steverdo - What about all the other not so rich dudes that don't pay child payments - put them all in jail - last count there probably a couple thousand out there - like Walsh from Illinois
Okay - Edwards is a slime bag - but what about all the others
Bottom line did he commit a crime? I think not - I think the dude that was collecting the money is looking to pocket a few million
Who really cares. The man had an affair. It's possible he had several. So what. Move on.
All politicians are hypocrates, or I guess many to most would be more appropriate.
Apparently the American people could care less remember Bill Clinton another democrap. And in the house the people built no less.
Well well. If Bunny Mellon was knowingly giving money to Edwards for his mistress and to keep the secret from his wife, it could not be a campaign contribution. She was having fun with her money. Of course she likely has a 15% capital gains tax rate on her dividend income. She was just creating jobs. There was Andrew Young and his wife skimming money off the top, the go between decorator, and whatever you can call Hunter. Just a gift for job creation.
I would call Hunter an opportunist.
Does anyone have Mrs. Mellon's phone number? I'd kind of like to have me an affair but I really can't afford it on a farm hand's income. Maybe get me a real purdy girl. And a $4 haircut.
This story makes me wonder how many affairs and other 'fun' business of politicians are 'supplemented' by the rich in return for tax breaks and other perks. If Edwards had been elected do you think he would not have been 'beholden' to the heiress for whatever she wanted from him. Talk about selling your soul. But apparently Edward's soul was capped at about $1 million at the time. Curious as to what they would give for it now.
Oh, and it's good to know the tax breaks for the rich are being 'reinvested' in the economy, in this case North Carolina's struggling 'furniture' business. Gotta love philanthropists!
"Gotta love philanthropists!"
He supports single moms. XD
SPRDg - Bunny Mellon just took in a stray dog - I know her - it was fun
Republican or Democrat, a scumbag liar is a scumbag liar. Wow, to think this guy might have been President!
Uh Bill Clinton.
When she said "she thought that you should probably pay for your girlfriend yourself" I thought the same thing. With the kind of money Edwards has you would have thought he wouldn't have had to ask for funds.
So which one was the bigger prostitute? Edwards for taking money so he could have sex or Hunter taking money so she could have sex?
SuzQ- or the nasty Youngs who were asking for 40-50 Million dollars.. Ya know damn well that asshat Andrew was asking for the money for himself, he was pissed because he couldn't get it and was going to blackmail to get more money.. What a stupid prosecutor to give that retard Andrew Young immunity from prosecution, sounds like he was doing more then Edwards.. Blackmail, contempt, tax evasion, skimming.
Edwards is scum of the earth and so is that skank bitch Riley, Riley is an opportunistic pig.. Bunny is no better than Riley.
John Edwards another fine example of those in government who want to control every aspect of our lives.
I bet this dick spewed out the "family values" spiel. Typical politician, no conscience, no honor, no dignity, no soul. I hope they throw this piece of offal in prison, but they won't because politics is a club and they never turn on a club member. I hate to say this but that is why a freak will strap explosives to his body and kill himself just to take out a few Americans. Way to add more debauchery to the world view of America. What is really depressing is that this proven lower form of life will still be paid millions to make appearances.
I'd be embarrassed to death if I were Edwards! How could he behave in this manner and still have family members surrounding him?
What is his excuse? "Oh! poor me, I wasn't getting my needs met while Elizabeth was dying."
How is this a "campaign finance" crime. She knew what it was for. I am yet to see how the finance laws were violated.
Follow the money!! Somebody has to declare the income. They would not likely lay charges if they thought they could not prove them. It is too late to do this for slander purposes. If he got his dream job we would never hear any of this.
Bobby - It is a Republican who brought this issue - he wants to feather his nest - just like ISSA the crook in congress who wants to look important and get votes
It's politics baby and dirty politicsa
Capital gains tax needs raised to 25% so that Bunny would have less money for this sort of thing. By the way, judging from all the posts everyday on this website, I thought all banksters and their wives were Republicans...you know the 1%...lol.
Too bad stupidity is not a crime. So glad he did not become President. What a bunch of crap.
This pig needs to go to prison.
Foolish but fun? What a wacko thing to say!
I wouldn't have a close guess I'm sure, about the extent of the Mellon fortune, but Bunny Mellon sure wasn't scrubbing floors and taking in laundry when it was accumulated. The rich don't have a clue about how most must acquire their personal wealth. So this story is just more insight into the "1%" who make the banking rules, but who are not accountable for the ills those rules generate. " Oh, let's all go out and invest in furniture this weekend!"
I'm sure Bunny Mellon would buy the Secret Service a few chairs if that's what it takes to keep a candidate available to reciprocate favors, and I'm sure there are lots of others with great wealth which would buy chairs too. "It's fun! "
They country and the world are in economic difficulty, and probably for the most part because people like Mellon are not grasping the concept of responsible money management. Edwards should be paying for his own chippy, just like the next cowboy in the cathouse, and not having a surrogate mother fund his indiscretions.
I don't see where this money went through any campaign fund yet. It just sounds like a rich woman gave money to a mistress through an intermediary named Andrew Young. If anything, they all owe the IRS for gift money...
I agree, what about taxes? If not for the "Bunny Money" that Edwards probably did not declare, but what about Bunny, herself? Surely her adviser/tax adviser had to state when, where, to whom and why the "Bunny Money" checks were being written. I'm sure if I kept writing unusually large checks my bank, spouse and tax preparer (if I was rich) would need to know what was going on. I can't believe Edwards had the nerve to ask Bunny Mellon for $40 to $50 million to form a foundation after his campaign collapsed. What a jerk. To think we could not "give" our son $5,000 to help put a larger down payment on his home - what crooks.
What? Having an affair cost $725,000? gee, there are lots of rich people in this country.
I wonder if Bunny Mellon knew that Edwards wife was sick? how could it be fun to support that? I thought old folks were supposed to be wise, but she oughta be senile or perverted.