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Subscribe to RSSA former Edwards confidant testified he and Andrew Young joked about making money from the sex tape Edwards had made with Rielle Hunter. NBC's Lisa Myers reports from Greensboro, N.C.
Updated at 6:50 p.m. ET: A donor to former Sen. John Edwards' 2008 presidential campaign testified Tuesday that he steered Barack Obama's campaign away from considering Edwards as a potential running mate or Cabinet member because of Edwards' affair with Rielle Hunter.
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Lisa Myers and Stacey Klein of NBC News and Ben Thompson of NBC station WCNC of Charlotte, N.C., contributed to this report by M. Alex Johnson of msnbc.com. Follow M. Alex Johnson on Twitter and Facebook. |
The donor, Tim Toben, a prominent developer in Chapel Hill, N.C., said he called the Obama campaign in June 2008 after Edwards told him that he might be Obama's running mate. Toben said he warned Obama advisers because he feared that Edwards' affair would have "destroyed" Democratic chances in the general election.
Edwards is on 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 two wealthy supporters.
Toben was called as a prosecution witness because he was identified as the intermediary who spirited Hunter away in the middle of the night to a waiting jet after The National Enquirer reported her identity. He said he did it as a "big favor" to Edwards.
Toben testified Monday that he broke ranks with Edwards after the candidate forced him to choose to remain loyal to him or to Andrew Young, the former Edwards aide who falsely claimed paternity for Hunter's daughter and is now Edwards' chief accuser.
Toben said he chose Young, saying Edwards had betrayed the trust of "the people he spoke for." He said he thought Young was unwisely "taking a bullet for the team" and encouraged him to write the book because "this charade was ridiculous."
Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards has faced public and private challenges throughout his life and career.
Tuesday afternoon, Wendy Button, a former speechwriter for Edwards, testified she helped Edwards draft a 2009 speech admitting the affair and acknowledging that he knew that money provided by the late Fred Baron was intended to deal with the Hunter problem.
That's one of the two key points prosecutors are trying to prove — that the money was handled as campaign contributions to his campaign and that Edwards knew what it was for.
In the 2009 draft speech — which he never delivered — Edwards intended to confirm that "I stood by while my friend (Baron) supported my daughter and will reimburse his wife for all he had done," Button said.
Mellon's lawyer testified Monday that Mellon considered her donations to be a gift to Edwards, not a campaign contribution.
Hampton Dellinger, a legal analyst for NBC News and msnbc.com, said her testimony could help jurors connect the dots between the former senator's actions and the crime he is accused of committing.
"This is an admission that John Edwards said he knew all along that Fred Baron was paying to cover up his affair," Dellinger said.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
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Why did I not see President Obama getting dragged into this? Edwards got caught with his pants down. Others covered up for him. Now it is a he say she say clown show. I can't wait for someone to say the President knew about this and had a hand in trying to cover it up.
This is a none story.
Ret
I agree !!
It is purely C.Y.A. Need I say more ??
bob
BS
Please,,hold your breath while you wait.
Edwards must have really pissed off the wrong people,which in my book would have made him a good president
That isn't the point, the point is that thank GOD someone had the sense to tell the Obama people to not put John Edwards anywhere near his administation, no as VP, not as Attorney General...not as White House Usher! Am hearted that someone, a John Edwards supporter/contributor had the sense to blow the whistle!
Same reason Reagan got away with Iran Contra idiot, in fact it looks like Obama got a page out of Reagans playbook, the gipper would be proud.
I agree with Ret_MSgt, this is a none story attempting to boost the Obama campaign image, saying they didn't even want him back then for all the trouble he's in now.
Go suck on a lemon, Edwards.
I believe Edwards would of been better than what we got. I do NOT believe Edwards would be trying to bankrupt this country like OBUMMER has been doing since he took office.
just saying it like i see it: I guess you would be OK with all the upheaval that our European friends are facing for massive spending cuts?
What I couldn't understand from the outset of this case- the f#$k!ng balls on and audacity of Edwards to run for President despite knowing this @!$%# was going on. WTF!? And then to be considering accepting a place in the Obama campaign?
I honestly want to smack the @!$%# out of him. Imagine he had won the nomination in the last stages of the campaign and then that stuff comes out.
Maybe it's just that narcissistic personality disorder that makes one get into those positions in the first place.
I took one look at Edwards and said "too vain". I'm sure no one knew , but his inner circle. One of our Reps was an Edwards supporter at first, but thank goodness not for long.
The fact that Barry even considered him as a running mate is scary, but then again, look at the rest of Barry's "friends"........not surprising!
Monkey, Europe is doing that because they have to. Another 4-years of President Obama, who I voted for, will put us much closer to where Europe is now. You folks can't understand that governments can go broke and rail against them when they are forced to live within their means.
Politicians are such scumbags! Obama included. They're all out for themselves regardless of wrapping up in the flag and whatever hot issue that will gain them votes.
More life long politicians need to be voted out.
2012 start over!
I don't know why Edwards would have wanted to be second fiddle to that other clown to begin with. Obama's group may not have known about the money but looks like they had a tip on the screwing around. He would still have been better than what we have.
Two electoral cycles in a row we get significant (if losing) candidates who abandon their primary relationship when they are most needed. I'm glad we have a man of intellect, judgement and character in the WHite House. I hope he stays there for four more years.
As the people involved have stated they gave the money freely and paid gift taxes on it i really don't see a case. Just because you contribute to someone's campaign doesn't mean you can't also give them a gift.
Hey, it takes a lot of money to keep hair lookin' that good.
I agree with you. The people that donated the money have said that they knew it was not for the campaign and that they knew exactly where it was going. About the only thing they may have Edwards on is a tax charge if he did not report these gifts on his income taxes. I do not see ho they have any way to make a charge with regard to campaign finance laws when the donors said the money as not given to the campaign to start with.
JD - Gifts are never taxable to the recipient.
Blame Obama for this? You might as well blame him for global warming or bad business practices. It is not a president's responsibility to expose someone else's bad judgment or character. Have you not had enough negative advertising or holier than thous judging others?
It's not even a president's responsibility to expose his own bad judgement or character. Just ask Bill Clinton.
Did I miss something here? The article is not trying to "blame" President Obama. It merely states that this guy warned the President about choosing Edwards as a running mate. Sounds like a good call.
Bush didn't when he got over 4000 soldiers killed for made up reasons to go to war !
No bobr this is about Obama and Edwards not Bush...............I guess the headline confused you.
Duh? I'm sure Obama came to that conclusion without help.
I think the point of the story is that Edwards WOULD have brought Obama down IF Obama had made him his running mate in 2008. And Obama was apparently considering it until the this Toben guy called the Obama campaign and told them what was going on.
So, as far as the Dems are concerned, this Toben guy is a minor hero for keeping radioactive Edwards away from Obama.
Apparently considering? I'm not sure how you come to that...There was a lot of people who wanted that running mate job. Toben merely shut Edwards door.
Does anyone else find it a little odd that this donor didn't seem to have a problem with the cheating, lying scumbag until the news became public. Suddenly he was amazed that the scumbag still had political ambitions. Even though he knew about the affair all along and had helped cover it up, and just kept on donating. It seems that the scumbag wasn't the only one with ambitions, judging from the speed at which the donor went running to the Obummer camp as soon as there was an opening
Given Tim Toben's history of marital fidelity, not surprising.
Rielle Hunter was a plant. A human Sex Trojan sent to seduce Edwards into doing what he did.
The GOP was dead. They knew it after the Bush/Cheney debacle.
All historical analysis and instincts ruled John Edwards was most likely to be President, but with a strong likelihood it can be H. Rodman Clinton also. This is why a second plan was made for Hillary. They made an elaborate movie and had the Supreme Court invent Citizens United to allow the movies to go on being made.
But alas, Barrack Obama took them by surprise. This is they termed him "The Magic Negro";This shock resulted in the Tea Party being stolen from Ron Paul and turned into this 'anti-big government movement'
Now lo and behold, America is now on the verge of giving magnificant power to an already established wealth generating institution by which Mr Romney's religion is led by.
HUH?
That is a conspiracy theory worthy of the XFiles, which isn't all bad considering how much I loved that show...
Susie Cue - My sentiments exactly! What are we talking about?
So he chose Gaffe King Joe Biden. LOL
I heard someone say Biden 2016. You think Biden is incoherent now, wait til he's 73.
Biden's only problem is that he tells the truth. I love him. No one is perfect, but he's done a remarkable job after King Cheney left the White House.Plus Biden is smart and a good pol with loads of experience.
Good for Toben. No one can expect someone else to keep a secret that is illegal. Edwards was in a tough place at the wrong time. He choose the wrong solution. No excuses! Toben did the right thing at the right time. No excuses!
I could care less about Edwards....as I could care less about Obama....He lied to us.
in 2008, and I voted for him. But, their are thousands of independants, who will not make that mistake twice. We now know the Real Obama....Spend money on Green failed projects...put us in debt to the tune of 16 Trillion, kill jobs, unless they are Union Jobs....kill small business....kill america....that is the Obama Way. The one-term President.
people like you shouldn't vote
And people like you shouldn't breed!
Oh yea , like I really believe that you voted for Obama.
So you'll throw your vote away on a professed liar like Romney. Wow, how sad.
Read any good books lately down there?LOL
@Dreeves, they are elected officials which makes them all liars, we merely vote for the one who lies the best lol
Right on.
Well they got one thing right. Edwards is snake poison and surely a Dirty Politician. The sooner we put him in jail the better off we will all be.
After Citizens United there should not really be a case. So he's a scumbag who got caught, doesn't make the man a criminal.
Really, look at Bawney "Brothel" Fwank......
Some of you are forgetting this is NOT just about donated money and there ARE campaign finance laws! You can't just say it's was a gift and use the money the way you want. Secondly, no one is "pulling Obama" into it other than to show that Edwards is dirty and taking him on as your VP would sink your campaign. It's called testimony folks and it's part of the same "circus" Edwards performed as a private citizen. All the Obama supporters should be happy he was tipped off about Edwards.
Wow...it is amazing to me that everytime something comes up... it can be anything...and "PRESIDENT OBAMA" (DID YOU GUYS GET THAT....HE IS POTUS .....RESPECT THAT!) is the blame for it all. They say haters are there because you are doing a good thing, keep it up...it just means that PRESIDENT OBAMA IS DOING A GREAT JOB....NOT PERFECT...BECAUSE NO ONE IS!!!! PERIOD!!!!!
He's doing so well that I expect he will be fired for his "efforts" this November.
With all due "respect"...
Respect for the Office..yes but repect for a person must be earned not legislated, bought or forced.
He is much more a POS than a POTUS.
Which is exactly why I had absolutely no respect for Bush Junior - he did nothing to earn it!
I could care less about Romney...as I could care less about whoever his running mate will be...and this is where I lose my composure and bust out with laughter.
I care about those who care about me, and political affiliation has nothing to do with it. Do I know you? Have we even shaken hands before? Has it occured to you that you are nothing to the people who are nothing to you. You still expect someone to vote for you?
This Edwards thing is over. Edwards has some personal issues he definitely has to get in order. Everything else is speculation.
I'm not sure I get your comment. You'll only vote for someone you know and who cares about you...so, in otherwords, you don't vote? And this has to do with this story because...
I don't see anything that even remotely connects Obama to this Edwards fiasco, other than a tip for Obama to look for another VP candidate. Too many dem conspiracy theorists are in this world, and just as many GOP conspiracy theorists are in the world.
The problem is: if you're dirty, sooner or later, you'll be exposed; hopefully sooner than later.
We got no better with Mr. Biden than with Mr. Edwards. I hope the DNC Convention will choose another V.P. candidate this summer; almost any will do.
we need more than just the VP change. this prez doesn't think he did anything wrong. and blaming bush just isn't getting it anymore. the demo's started spending 2 years before bush got out. so they are the blame for the mess obama walked into, not bush.
This president has not done anything wrong. He has made the best of the terrible state our economy was left in. If you think anyone could have fixed it in such a short time, you're delusional. True, he isn't perfect, but of course that is because he is human. As is Biden. Everyone makes mistakes and I for one don't expect my president or anyone to be perfect. If you are expecting miracles, you have a long wait.
Wrong Michael , just plain wrong.
And until I hear Republicans , TeaBaggers , RonPaulites, Dittoheads , Religious cukoos , Birthers, Nugents, Palinites, treasonous Norquist Pledgers and the rest of the Right Wing Wackos admit that Bush almost killed us - literally and figuratively - and take their share of the blame for all of this bullcrap - you don't get one shred of credibility from this Independant voter.
And you won't get my vote either. Not in November , not ever again. It will take a century to help erase the stain of that complete and utter failure named the Shrub.
KMC.... get a job.
Vote for Obuma. You deserve each other.
Jerry , it will be nice to know that I will at least offset your stupidity.
......and my portfolio is doing just fine , thank you.
they all steal from the people, need i say more, obama is as guilty as edwards, and any other moron we vote in office,
I'm sure Obama would take a re election campaign donation from him though.
The donor Tim Toben who made this stupid statement , needs a donor for his Brain Transplant!
It just amazes me how we can all look at the same problem from so many angles and come up with such different views! And we all think that we are so right! It helps me to understand why the world's problems are so difficult to solve.
Carole
Ret_MSgt
I wouldn't say this is a cover your ass story. It is pretty clear the guy wanted Obama to win so he simply steered the Obama campaign away. Most likely he didn't say why but rather a vague, "you will regret your choosing him (Edwards) as a running mate". Still a good story but removed from the president and his team.
Didn't Rachel "Bunny" Mellon and Fred Baron "donate" to Obama's campaign?
Shush!
That settles it. Even the peanut farmer who donated $20 to the Obama campaign is somehow involved in the support of the Edwards affair.
It's a sad day to be a peanut farmer with people like you around.
Shush! is right. Next thing you know every person who donates to any party will somehow end up being portrayed as proliferators of child porn.
The peanut farmer retired gracefully 31 years ago. Let him RIP
This whole case is stupid. Edwards is a politician and politicians are crooks. This is just another case of a prosecutor trying to make a name for himself so he can break into politics. I wish they wouldn't waste my tax dollars on Edwards, I don't care about the money, where it came from, or what it was for!
FYI
BEST QUOTE OF THE DECADE
Some people have the vocabulary to sum up things in a way you can understand them. This quote came from the Czech Republic . Someone over there has it figured out. We have a lot of work to do.
This quote was translated into English from an article appearing in the Czech Republic as published in the Prager Zeitung of 28 April 2010.
"The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting an inexperienced man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama Presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their President. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America . Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their President."
Dead On!
Ahhh yes , let's listen to a "someone" from the Czech Republic - because their government has such a stellar record.
It's almost an endorsement.
P.S - you do know that this is a fabricated story don't you ?
yep as is most of any polticians BS
Yes you are 100% correct. The great thing about what you are saying has to do with who makes this country work. The voters who put Obama in are the ones who will be hurt the most. They will try an blame others but at some point in time when the free ride stops. When it does the people who work every day will find a way to support themselves and their families. Those who do not have the basic work ethic or the fortitude to change their lives will end up in abject poverty. Everyone in this society will have to take a step down but it won't last forever. We need to work through it. The free ride is coming to an end. Whether by choice or by force. The national credit card is being canceled. We just haven't received the notice in the mail yet.
Sometimes it takes someone on the outside looking in to see the real cause of our problems. Good quote.
Hell, I would rather have Edwards than Obuma. Hell, I would rather have Manson than Obuma.
I feel the same way.
LOL
Ohhh, Helter Skelter for President??? what a novel idea LMAO!!!
I'd like to lock you 3 idiots up with Manson.
Damn it leave Charlie out of it. He's had a bad enough rap for years now without getting dragged into this mess. Try to start one little revolution and no body will let you live it down.
Vote Keith Judd in 2012 ! He got 41% of the vote in the W VA Democratic Primary.