John Edwards Indicted for Using Campaign Funds to Hide Affair
Credit: Evan Agostini/Getty Images
After turning down the opportunity to reach a plea agreement, former North Carolina senator John Edwards was indicted Friday morning on six counts: one count of conspiracy, four counts of illegal contributions, and one count of false statements. If convicted, he could face five years in prison and six-figure fines.
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The charges date back to August 2008, when the 57-year-old admitted to having an extramarital affair with his mistress, Rielle Hunter, 47, with whom admitted fathering a daughter with in 2010. The Democrat has since been involved in a two-year jury investigation about whether he allegedly used more than $900,000 in campaign funds to hide his extramarital affair in order to protect his reputation and bid.
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"As this indictment shows, we will not permit candidates for high office to abuse their special ability to access the coffers of their political supporters to circumvent our election laws," said Assistant U.S. Attorney General Lanny Breuer in a statement.
The New York Times writes, "Mr. Edwards has maintained that he used the money to hide the affair, but for private purposes -- to conceal it from his wife."
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The scandal caused Edwards and his wife, the late Elizabeth Edwards, to separate in 2008. They never officially divorced. Elizabeth passed away in December 2010 at age 61 after a six-year battle with breast cancer.
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11Isabel - Bill Clinton was embraced by the Democratic party even as he and Hillary left the White House stealing furniture as he hit the street. C'mon, Anthony Weiner is hardly getting any static for sending pictures of his bulge out over Twitter. Its a double standard that Democrats are famous for. Ted Kennedy got away with murder...Rush's biggest crime is his big mouth..at least he marries his affairs..
Rania - I laughed out loud when I read your comment. So true! When the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke, a male family member said, "If I'm going to get into trouble, it's going to be over Heather Locklear...not THIS chick." I couldn't have agreed more. My first dog was a complete mutt, and he still looked better than Rielle Hunter.
Darren Kim Horton - What about Arnie, Newt, Trump, Limbaugh, Sanford, etc. They are all highly immoral men. Democrats DUMPED John Edwards the second we found out about his shenanigans.
all the these men cheat on their wives with ugly women. i don't get it. if you are going to cheat at least upgrade.
I think the bigger issue is that this is selective law enforcement. Bush and Company remain at large and enjoying all the comforts of mass murder and pillaging. John Edwards behavior is indeed disgusting but running for president as a Democrat doesn't obtain the special immunity of the ruling class. Sorry, John, you just missed the cut.
All these scumbags - John Edwards, Jesse James, Arnold S., - couldn't keep it in their pants for women who are less attractive than their wives!
Good. I was working at the Democratic National Committee during the 2008 campaign, and when the news of his affair broke, all of us women in my department were ready to skin and roast him. We were so angry at him, he wouldn't have left there alive.
Typical liberal dems- Kennedy, Clinton, Edwards....no class...no morals.
What a complete D bag. His poor wife had to deal with his sorry ass and cancer...how sad.
This is very sad. He had an up and coming career and has blown it away over a s*ut. I am glad Elizabeth is not here to see this.
What is done in the dark, shall come to light. After what he did to his wife, he is definitely getting his.