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Former presidential candidate charged with illegally using nearly $1 million in campaign funds
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Happening now former presidential candidate John Edwards in his criminal trial is underway and Edwards is charged with illegally using nearly one million dollars in campaign funds.
During the 2008 election.
-- for the wrong reasons prosecutors say he used that money to conceal an extramarital affair with his pregnant mistress real hunter.
At Edwards denies knowing about the money was allegedly paid for private jets and luxury hotels.
And hunters medical care joining us live is Peter Johnson junior Fox News.
Legal analyst nice to see Peter you -- I see you several years -- has seemed that entire lifetimes -- -- 2008.
I campaign so why now why are we seeing this come to court now.
Well -- scene is -- -- be more -- and sex in this trial than in the whole season of the of the good life and it's come to trial now because the federal government.
Is saying that a million dollars in campaign donations were actually stolen.
Two the use of real hunter in perpetrating this cover up.
So mr.
Edwards presidential campaign and ambitions could in fact go forward the legal issue is where they actually contributions.
Or were they gifts made by friends the trial lawyer mr.
-- who's now dead.
Two who was head of the of finance and for mr.
Edwards campaign.
And a 101.
Year old social heiress neither of them -- -- testify.
In this case so how.
Has -- Peter -- between semi and giving you money because.
Hey listen you need help and that's -- the defense team alleges that there -- whispers that John Edwards needs some help for personal matter and that's where they got money.
And the line between saying this -- actually for the campaign for new paying aids and printing out pamphlets and all the.
Rest well the federal government's theories that this is a straight pay -- that this is hush money.
Paid allegedly as a gift but really within the context of a presidential.
Campaign.
That they were campaign contributions.
Even if they weren't called campaign contributions.
Mr.
Edwards has amassed a tremendous legal team.
Of -- Republicans and Democrats and they're gonna be dissecting in this case but what we're going to be hearing is -- Of a veil of lies on both sides obviously mr.
Edwards didn't tell the truth about his relationship in this hunter.
And the child that they had together and mr.
-- edwards' top assistant.
Didn't tell the truth when -- said well I'm the father of the child that's -- million dollars went out the window for lavish hotels as you say.
A hole it was built.
And so we also know that mr.
Edwards popularity -- to at least one poll he's got a 3%.
Popularity -- if you miss a daunting task for any you know I -- where you point out there's sleaze on both sides yes and so Edwards faces thirty years potentially behind bars how difficult.
Is that for the prosecution and to get a sentence like that in this type of the case.
You know it depends if there's at full prosecution.
And it goes forward and all the charges and there's a national outrage.
And the federal judge -- been appointed by President Obama and there will be at least five or six.
Obama aides and former Obama aides will be testifying in this case yeah there's a potential for a big.
Jail sentence.
-- on the other -- -- that -- but the ripple effects of that because -- -- saying this is the case that really could change a lot.
When it comes to campaign finance this case.
Should tell us a little bit about why that would be well -- would be because as a moral outrage in the country number one number two we also know that.
Governor Richardson of New Mexico is being investigated with regard -- his campaign finances and a relationship.
With the woman and that could open the door for other prosecutions.
In this country we also know the public integrity section of the Department of Justice has not faired well in certain prosecutions and they've been on the losing side.
In the in this will be illegally -- that will goal on appeal.
Is this 945000.
Dollar.
So called contributions.
Really contributions regulated.
By the federal elections commission or they really gifts because they really like John Edwards and they wanted his then girlfriend.
To have a good life and that it not get out into public.
And ruin his ambitions provides that a government says it's one in the same and that he should go to jail as SARS today six weeks six -- here irate Peter Jackson junior thank you so much and I see.
