Will they or won’t they? There is much speculation surrounding the trial of John Edwards, former Democrat nominee for Vice President. The narcissist John Edwards who always talks about “two Americas,” only he forgets to mention that it is one where people are faithful to their cancer-stricken wives. And the other, where people try to cover up and pay-off their pregnant mistresses.
He is on trial charged with six counts of violating federal election laws, alleged to have used campaign contributions to cover up his affair and his pregnant mistress. More from The New York Times:
He is being tried on six felony charges, four involving whether he accepted illegal campaign contributions. He also faces charges of conspiracy and making false statements.
The government contends that Mr. Edwards knowingly accepted nearly $1 million from two wealthy donors and used it to hide his affair with Rielle Hunter and the daughter the couple conceived. Ms. Hunter once made videos for Mr. Edwards’s campaign.
The money was used to support Ms. Hunter, the baby and Andrew Young, a campaign aide who claimed paternity, as they spent months traveling to cities like Santa Barbara, Calif., and Aspen, Colo., trying to hide from the news media.
Because the information would have surely torpedoed Mr. Edwards’s campaign, the government argues that the money was a campaign contribution and its use a conspiracy.
The defense contends that the payment was largely a scam by Mr. Young and his wife, Cheri, to siphon hundreds of thousands of dollars from the banking heiress Rachel Mellon to build a $1.5 million house in Chapel Hill.
Other payments went to cover the medical expenses of Ms. Hunter and to keep Mr. Edwards’ affair with her secret. Mr. Edwards went along with this plan, a defense lawyer said, to avoid humiliation for himself and his wife, Elizabeth. (Elizabeth Edwards died of breast cancer in December 2010.)
If he is convicted on all six counts, Mr. Edwards, 58, faces up to 30 years in prison and $1.5 million in fines.
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The jury has been deliberating for days.
Twists & turns … GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Edwards, attorneys back in courtroom after judge tells jurors to keep deliberating
— Ed Henry (@edhenry) May 31, 2012
The jury was deadlocked and was sent back to deliberate yet again earlier today.
BREAKING: Judge Catherine Eagles sends jury back for more deliberation. Count 3 only unanimous decision.
— WCHL & Chapelboro (@WCHLChapelboro) May 31, 2012
BREAKING: Judge Eagles sends jury in for further deliberations.
— WCHL & Chapelboro (@WCHLChapelboro) May 31, 2012
More news from #edwardstrial: After a short deliberation, jury passes another note (we don't know what it says) to the judge…
— WCHL & Chapelboro (@WCHLChapelboro) May 31, 2012
Twitchy will monitor and update as soon as a verdict comes in. In the meantime, Twitter users are amusing themselves during the wait.
Edwards jury: "PSYCHE! Made you look, you owe me a Coke."
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) May 31, 2012
BREAKING: #Edwards jury has taken advantage of Groupon for oil painting lessons.
— Stephen Green (@VodkaPundit) May 31, 2012
LOLZ! RT @MajoratNJ Judge tells #Edwards jury if they reach verdict on all 6 counts today….Mayor Bloomberg will deliver Big Gulps
— Tammy Bruce (@HeyTammyBruce) May 31, 2012
RT @CuffyMeh: WARNING: If Edwards is convicted, expect a riot of handsome, southern horndog ambulance chasers to erupt in America's cities.
— Melissa Mackenzie (@MelissaTweets) May 31, 2012
UPDATE:
EDWARDS TRIAL: NOT GUILTY on county 3, HUNG JURY on all other counts — ABC News NC team
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) May 31, 2012
UPDATE:
Judge has ruled a mistrial on the 5 other counts in the Edwards case #BreakingNews
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) May 31, 2012
Some reaction, as only Twitter can.
Edwards should give his two americas speech outside the courthouse
— Sam Stein (@samstein) May 31, 2012
Don'cha just wish You could get away with anything you wanted to do regardless of law? If Edwards is not guilty, I'm a freaking saint!
— Sandy (@tnacgal) May 31, 2012
Political career back on! RT @ExJon: ★ EDWARDS 2016 ★
— Joe Brooks (@joebrooks) May 31, 2012
Regardless of the verdict, the fact remains: John Edwards got a women pregnant while his wife was battling cancer. And he was once VP nom.
— RBe (@RBPundit) May 31, 2012
Cable news verdict: GUILTY of speculating endlessly until the Edwards verdict came in. Edwards: GUILTY of being an asshat. #NEXT
— Laffy (@GottaLaff) May 31, 2012
Don't worry. #Edwards is still guilty of being a total douche.
— Stephen Green (@VodkaPundit) May 31, 2012
RT @rorycooper: Note for Editors: John Edwards was the 2004 Democratic Vice Presidential nominee.
— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) May 31, 2012
The Office of Justice for Silky Ponies? RT @JimPethokoukis: Edwards: "Which office do I go to get my reputation back?"
— Tammy Bruce (@HeyTammyBruce) May 31, 2012
RT @BlameTelford: I'll tell you what John Edwards in not guilty of: being a good husband.
— Melissa Mackenzie (@MelissaTweets) May 31, 2012
The Office of Don't Cheat on Ur Stage 4 Cancer-Striken Wife? MT @JimPethokoukis Edwards: "Which office do I go to get my reputation back?"
— Tammy Bruce (@HeyTammyBruce) May 31, 2012
Remember in 2008 when Hillary & Obama went to the John Edwards mansion to beg for his endorsement & both walked away from him? Yeah…
— Aaron V (@PoliticsOfFear) May 31, 2012
And trending.
https://twitter.com/LachlanMarkay/status/208293309637070848
UPDATE: Edwards speaking live.
John Edwards is speaking live on @CNN TV now. "There is no one else responsible for my sins," he says.
— CNN (@CNN) May 31, 2012
Now Bloomberg should ban John Edwards from uttering another word
— Mike Doyle (@THEmikedoyle) May 31, 2012
John Edwards: While I do not believe I did anything illegal … I did an awful, awful lot that was wrong – live video http://t.co/AE0QlTsN
— Breaking News (@BreakingNews) May 31, 2012
"I did an awful, awful lot that was wrong." – John Edwards
— Anthony DeRosa ? (@Anthony) May 31, 2012
Wow, Edwards: "And finally, my precious Quinn, who I love more than any of you could ever imagine…I am so grateful for Quinn…"
— Mike O'Brien (@mpoindc) May 31, 2012
John Edwards: "Finally my precious Quinn, who I love more than any of you could ever image.." speaks of the child w Hunter
— Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) May 31, 2012
Twitter puts politics aside and is united in not wanting to hear him. Of course, the Left didn’t mind hearing him when he was their nominee for vice president.
Oh dear God John Edwards nobody wants to hear from your "voice" right now. Nobody.
— Joan Walsh (@joanwalsh) May 31, 2012
Super, John Edwards with a mic on national TV again. Point, Mayan calendar.
— Mary Katharine Ham (@mkhammer) May 31, 2012
Edwards now gets what he's always wanted his entire public career: attention.
— Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) May 31, 2012
Ugh RT @JimPethokoukis: Edwards on his jury: "Very, very impressive"
— Melissa Mackenzie (@MelissaTweets) May 31, 2012
https://twitter.com/Toure/status/208306624257982466
Chris Matthews thinks about Edwards’ career.
GOP fantasy! RT @ethanklapper: Chris Matthews: It sounded to me like [Edwards] was not giving up his political career.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) May 31, 2012
Those with a soul think about his daughter.
Only person who comes out of this looking good: Cate Edwards … hard to be hard to sit through the trial.
— Ed Henry (@edhenry) May 31, 2012
Kate Edwards, bless her heart. Not a fun ride for her.
— Mary Katharine Ham (@mkhammer) May 31, 2012
Indeed.
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