John Edwards Trial: Former Senator Faces 30 Years for Hiding Affair
The case against Democratic politician John Edwards will begin on April 23 and may unveil for the first time the truth behind the scandal that shook the nation during the 2008 presidential elections.
Former U.S. senator John Edwards will face a jury in April. Edwards has been charged with six felonies including violating campaign laws, accepting illegal contributions and making false statements. If accused he could face up to 30 years in prison and more than a $1 million in fines. Edwards had previously dismissed a plea bargain, which could have meant spending only six months in prison.
The former senator first announced his presidential campaign in 2006. During his campaign, which was suspended at the end of January after taking third place to President Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton, he managed to raise over $23 million in funds.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Edwards has been accused of using a part of those funds to hide an illicit affair with former campaign worker Rielle Hunter, a scandal which first broke in 2007. While Edwards at first denied the affair and being the father of Hunter's child, he eventually confessed to the affair in August of 2008. Edwards continuously denied being the father to Hunter's child, going as far as to persuade his then campaign aide Edward Young to come forward as the child's father instead.
In 2009, the government launched an investigation into Edward's presidential campaign. It was not until 2010 that Edwards admitted to fathering a child with Rielle Hunter, two years after the accusations had become public. Edwards' wife Elizabeth, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, legally separated from Edwards in January of 2010, following his confession of being the father. Elizabeth died from breast cancer in December of that year, before being able to follow through with divorce.
Edwards has adamantly denied all charges against him.
"What's important now is that I now get my day in court," Edwards following an October court hearing. "And what I know with complete and absolute certainty is I didn't violate campaign law."
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington will testify on Edward's behalf, despite admitting that Edwards is a "loathsome" man.
"This is a lousy case," CREW executive director Melanie Sloan told ABC. "And while John Edwards is a loathsome human being and he behaved despicably, he didn't engage in criminal action and that is the problem. This case is being brought just because everybody hates John Edwards, not because he broke the law."
