John Edwards Faces Indictment for Misusing $1M of Campaign Money
Former North Carolina Senator and 2004 Vice Presidential nominee John Edwards could face indictment for allegedly using campaign donations from wealthy donors to cover up his affair with Rielle Hunter, whom he fathered a child with in 2008.
Edwards was an announced candidate for the Democratic nomination in 2008. However, his campaign lost momentum once rumors of his affair began to surface.
The key figure in the case is Hunter, a former videographer for the Edwards campaign. Edwards initially denied having an affair with Hunter but later admitted to being the father of her child. Edwards reportedly conspired with Andrew Young, then a top aide, to cover up the affair.
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ABC News reported late Tuesday the Department of Justice has given the green light for Edwards to be prosecuted and that Edwards has been informed of their decision.
The investigation, which has been ongoing for two years, involves alleged payments from wealthy donors Rachel “Bunny” Mellon and Edward finance chairman Fred Baron. The amount in question, a sum in excess of $1 million, was supposedly used to provide living expenses for Hunter and Young, who initially said he was the father of Hunter’s child.
Mellon is now over 100 years old and Baron passed away from cancer in 2008. His widow, however, has testified before the grand jury. Mellon was interviewed at her estate in Virginia and some of her family members testified before a North Carolina grand jury last December.
Young has testified at length before the grand jury and is expected to be a key prosecution witness if the case were to go to trial. In addition to Young, other campaign staffers have testified before a North Carolina grand jury to determine the extent, if any, of possible knowledge of a cover-up or misuse of campaign funds.
In 2010, Young published a tell-all account titled The Politician, in which he revealed details about the transfer of funds from Mellon and Baron and how those funds were used to care for Hunter, Young and his wife. He has said Mellon was unaware how the funds were used.
If Edwards is convicted or admits the donations were used for such purposes, he would have violated federal campaign laws, some of which have severe penalties.
Edwards’ wife, Elizabeth, was an integral part of his political success but they separated in 2010. She died later that year after a six-year battle with cancer.
Sources close to the investigation are saying Edwards is “weighting his options,” and hopes to avoid prison time and maintain his law license.
