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Ted Richardson / Reuters
John Edwards exits the federal courthouse with one of his defense lawyers, Abbe Lowell, right, in Greensboro, N.C. on Friday.
Prosecutors rested their case against John Edwards on Thursday without calling his mistress, Rielle Hunter, to testify. Instead, some of the former Democratic presidential candidate’s closest friends and advisers gave dramatic, often unflattering testimony about his actions as his once-promising political career collapsed amid a sex scandal.
Edwards' defense team will ask U.S. District Court Judge Catherine C. Eagles on Friday to dismiss the case, arguing that prosecutors haven't proven their case. If the judge allows the trial to go forward, the defense will begin presenting its side Monday — and may call Hunter to testify. Edwards could also take the stand in his own defense.
It is unclear whether the defense intends to call the 48-year-old Hunter, who has not attended the proceedings, to testify.
Prosecutors rested their case against John Edwards on Thursday without calling his mistress, Rielle Hunter, to testify. NBC's Lisa Myers reports.
In a court order issued March 21, Judge Catherine Eagles wrote: "The defense contends, without contradiction by the Government, that Ms. Hunter's statements have been consistent over time and that she has not said nor is she likely to say that Mr. Edwards admitted or committed any element of the charged offenses. The defense is of the view that her testimony will support inferences in favor of Mr. Edwards and will in fact generally be consistent with the defense theory of the case."
According to court documents, Hunter has been granted immunity from prosecution in connection with the case.
Elizabeth Edwards was in the spotlight on Wednesday at the corruption trial of former presidential candidate John Edwards. In wrenching testimony, a witness talked about her final days, saying Edwards was consumed by her husband's betrayal. NBC's Lisa Myers reports.
Edwards has pleaded not guilty to six counts related to campaign finance violations. Prosecutors say he spearheaded a scheme to use nearly $1 million in secret payments from Fred Baron, his campaign finance manager, and 101-year-old heiress Rachel "Bunny" Mellon to hide his affair and keep his presidential campaign viable.
Edwards denies knowing about the secret payments, which his lawyers contend were gifts from friends rather than campaign contributions. He faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.
While the past 14 days of testimony has focused on the money trail, the trial has also revisited Edwards' breathtaking fall. He had an affair with Rielle Hunter, a videographer on his campaign, as he renewed his marriage vows to his cancer-stricken wife, Elizabeth. He fathered a child with Hunter and then a decision was made for his right-hand man to claim paternity so Edwards could keep up his lofty political ambitions. And he lied repeatedly to his wife, his advisers and the public.
As prosecutors wrapped up their case, they showed the jury records detailing the money spent to hide Hunter — $319,500 in cash, luxury hotels, private jets and a $20,000-a-month rental mansion in Santa Barbara, Calif. The bills, flashed up on a large screen for the jury to see, were all paid by Baron, a wealthy Texas lawyer who served as Edwards' 2008 campaign finance chairman.
Baron began paying the expenses after tabloid reporters tracked down the pregnant mistress in Chapel Hill, where she had been secretly living in a house rented for her only a few miles from the Edwards family estate. Hunter was being closely watched over by Edwards' once-close confidant, Andrew Young, who falsely claimed paternity of boss' baby as the tabloid prepared to expose the affair.
As part of the cover-up, Baron paid for Hunter — and Young and his wife — to cross the country on private flights worth more than $80,000 and stay in waterfront hotel suites costing nearly $44,000, including bar tabs and frequent room service. Baron also leased a mansion in Santa Barbara for the mistress as she prepared to give birth, with total costs over the next eight months totaling $184,378.
Several witnesses testified that Edwards knew what the money was spent on; others were less definitive.
Earlier Thursday, a former unpaid economic adviser to Edwards testified that the candidate actively courted his Democratic rivals in an effort to be tapped as the eventual nominee’s running mate, even as his own campaign was collapsing.
The adviser, Leo Hindery, said he was an intermediary between Edwards and former Sen. Tom Daschle, who was then with Obama's campaign. On the night of Jan. 4, 2008, after Obama won the Iowa caucuses, Edwards asked Hindery to talk to Obama's camp.
"Edwards believed it was important that Mrs. Clinton not be the nominee,” Hindery testified. “He thought it would be a disaster."
Hindery said he reached out to the Obama campaign, via Daschle, and said, "Mr. Edwards for his support would like to be part of (the administration) and be attorney general." Daschle was skeptical and questioned "whether this is appropriate," he said.
Hindery also testified Edwards thought if he became attorney general that might eventually evolve into a nomination for the Supreme Court.
The jockeying didn't end there. When Obama didn't accept Edwards with open arms, he started talking to Clinton's campaign, Hindery said.
Earlier in the campaign corruption trial, adviser Tim Toben said he was astonished when Edwards told him in June 2008 he still had a desire to become Obama's running mate or fill his Cabinet.
"I was alarmed," Toben testified. "I couldn't believe a man with a 4-month-old baby with another woman would seriously consider running for vice president."
The advisers' testimony is key because prosecutors are trying to show jurors that Edwards still had political aspirations after his campaign was suspended in January 2008.
Lisa Myers, Michael Austin and Stacey Klein of NBC News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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What a power hungry hack...
It just goes to show, it's actually easy to fool people about yourself. In this case the coverup compounds the crime. And shame on all those who did not disclose such egregious failings.
What do you have when you put a $2,000 Armani suit on a "Donkey"....
An Ass with no class
This guy is a total slug, period.
Edwards is your perfect government politician.
Lets not leave out he's also an attorney, your typical bottom-feeding, soul-sucking "officer of the court".
I don't rank the current prosecutors or defense lawyers any higher than the Edwards the Scum, the Youngs and the slut who became a mother of his child: Just what is the uber relevance of Elizabeth's pain and suffering? What kind of adult would participate in purveying such misery again to the public? Jeeze, why not dig her up and see how she's doing?
Typical Democrat ..............just following in Billy Clinton's shoes , Sex, Lies , and campaign $$
Both parties have had scumbags in their ranks. Look at Republican Senator David Vitter cavorting with prostitutes or Republican Governor Mark Sanford lying about going hiking when he was vacationing with his mistress.
Let's see...hiking vs fathering child while wife is dying from cancer. Good analogy there John.
No matter what you are Repub or Demo they call go down the same way, Look at ike, as an example and he was supposedly an honorable man. It seems when they go to Congress or to the White House, they forget their morals. at least Obama,s kept a clear field. He and his wife appear happy even they live in a goldfish bowl.
Yes my Lady Jag--your Obama daddy has everything under control and hidden well—you'll feel really bad when the truth comes out about this Billy Clinton want a be..
No class AND clueless................
No different than Newt thinking that he could get the presidential nood with his marriage background. Men and the way they think with the wrong head!
Cath8385-- since you have classified all of us guys in the same category you seem to forget you're on the rag every month right on cue—we all love the righteous woman..
Seems to me Obamas knowledge of this should be looked into.
So John, even if Obama knew he was having an affair, what has that got to do with anything?? Is Obama supposed to come out and say "Hey Edwards is having an affair."?
well.. encase anyone didn't notice Obama and his crew are busy in the whitehouse flipping switches and throwing leavers for his run for re-election. The way it breaks down is:
Rep - vs - Dem,
Rich - vs - Poor,
Rich = 1%, Poor = 99%
Total this up and you get Obama for 4 more years
Unless.. Bushwacker Repubs can stuff the ballot box again.
Funny thing about the unknown, it/they/them remain unknown-- just like Obama's past, care to comment on that unknown1..
No matter how much he suffers or how much time he spends in jail it will not come close to the anguish that he caused his wife as she died from Cancer. Scumbag, liar and cheat and to top it all of STUPID. Hey Edwards were the few hours you were in the sack with that nut case worth all this. There you go thinking with the little head again. Ego ego ego
AMEN! They should castrate him.
What wanton hubris....Scum, and wanton hubris....
He will likely get off because when you are rich or powerful they start using terms like 'willingly or knowingly broke the law' as an escape hatch!
For example, how often does the DA need to prove that someone caught smoking pot did so 'willingly or knowingly of it illegality' to obtain conviction...... that's right it is never an angle used in trials for commoners.
If I was on the jury I would convict in a blink of an eye as I am tired of a tiered justice system where those with the money or connections purchase and garner more 'justice'!
No he will get off because they can't prove their case—is as simple as that—it is oblivious you have never sat on a jury--better luck next time..
Any and all doubt the lame scream, looney tune left wing liberals, control the press ended with this debacle of a 'trial'. In the press, Edwards was subliminally and many times painted as the 'misunderstood victim' in this case. It was a gut wrenching pain to view once again how odd this Nation has become since January 2009. If your the political opposition and cheat on your spouse, you're a low down scoundrel. If you're a democrat, the view is watered down and taking a page out of the feminista book, you're a misunderstood 'victim' that didn't understand the meaning of the word 'IS'. Slick Willie comes to mind as well. DemocRATS all. We find women that cheat numbers off the scale in reality, albeit never reported by the lame scream media. The social engineering message is clear; if you're a democrat, male, and cheat, you're bad, bad, bad, albeit somewhat of a victim. If you're a member of the political opposition, male, and cheat; you're an insufferable buffoon worthy of the worst that can be dished. If you're a woman that cheats; you're forgiven as it will never be reported; and as we all know, women are 'good, perfect, and wholesome' every time. No wonder space aliens HOVER and never land on this planet. No intelligent life on this rock.
Why do you righties claim that everything is a liberal media conspiracy? This is a juicy sex scandal and the press eats that up. I don't think the press as you say "gone soft" on the scumbag.
John Edwards has proved himself to be a scumbag husband...as has Newt Gingrich if you are truly honest about it. Edwards career in politics is over, no doubt about it and has been for 4 years. No way in hell will Edwards ever be able to stage any kind of a comeback in politics. He's persona non grata in virtually every political circle today.
My question is sir, do you think Edwards committed a crime?
I liked Edwards politics, but I hate him as a human being. It wouldn't bother me a bit to see him go to jail. He embarrassed himself and my party.
But from what I've read, I don't believe the Prosecutors failed to prove he committed a crime.
Edwards certainly broke the spirit of the law, but I don't see how he break the letter of the law. Which is required..isn't it?
On the other hand I'm not in the jury and I haven't been there every day.
John Edwards, whether he gets off or not, is finished in American politics and I hope finished for what ever career he thinks he has. Unfortunately, he probably has enough money he won't really ever have to "own up" He should have checked out his girlfriend. Her name is actually Lisa Jo Druck and her father was James Druck who killed her horse "Henry the Hawk" for an insurance scam. She was a championship rider up to that point. Maybe that is when she changed her name. If your father killed your horse what would you do. She most likely is a loose cannon and I will bet no one will call her to the stand. Check out your one night stands Mr. Edwards you are disgusting. You traded your wife,your career for a nut case....apparently you thought so too in the end. I don't know how you sleep at night and I don't know why your daughter stands by you.
Edwards may a horrible husband, but I don't see where he committed a crime? The Government prosecutors accused him of using "campaign" money to cover up his affair. But the people who "chipped" in both said it was a personal gift.
Maybe this is Semantics, and I wouldn't want him involved with any woman I know but I can't see how you can actually contend he broke the law. Maybe he broke the spirit of the law but he definitely didn't break the letter of the law.
If we are going to start throwing people in jail for breaking the spirit of laws, I'm sure there a more than a few bankers who can expect to spend a few lifetimes at Shawshank.
I can't believe the government is going after someone trying to enforce the law. Shame on Obama and his justice dept. Instead of cracking down on illegals who are a national security threat they come up with some discrimination issue for illegals. Ok make everyone show ID's whites, blacks and latinos everyone.
Why doesn't Obama go after the Drug Lords and Drug Cartels, why don't we use Drone to put them out of business? Why don't we use the Navy Seals , Marines and Air Force ? Why don't we invade Mexico and Columbia like we did in Afganistan and Iraq?
We need a guy like Joe for President not Barry Sotero aka Barak Obama.
Well i hope you people that thinks EWDARDS IS A SLUM BAG OR WITHOUT SIN YOURSELVES.