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Former senator and presidential candidate denies knowing anything about cash payments on his behalf
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The trial of the former US senator and presidential candidate John Edwards is now underway in North Carolina.
You'll call he -- accused of using nearly a million dollars in campaign cash.
-- -- to cover up an affair with his then mistress rail hunter during his White House run in 2008.
John Edwards later admitted he did indeed father a child -- this woman while his wife Elizabeth battled cancer.
But the former senator denies knowing anything about the cash payments which were reportedly used for flights and hotel rooms.
And rail -- medical care.
Meantime friends of the couple say that relationship may have fizzled that's according to the reporting in the New York Post which our parent company owns.
A restaurant worker reportedly spotted John Edwards and rail -- dining and said the pair.
Never held hands adding and I quote.
They looked like a married couple you would think that and you would think you could you would think that if you -- know them.
Jonathan series live outside the courthouse in Greensboro.
Jonathan what what what are we learning from opening statements -- -- tell us how the trial might unfold there.
Yeah -- during those over opening statements prosecutors told jurors that John Edwards knew exactly what was going on.
With that nearly one million dollars to two wealthy donors provided to hide.
His then pregnant mistress they're going to try to prove the money was intended to protect the candidates public image during the 2008 campaign.
And that they -- for -- represented.
Campaign contributions.
If they win this trial it could change the way political campaigns conduct business.
First -- -- -- hire more lawyers because the -- becomes a lot less certain and whenever you've got uncertainty involved you need to -- -- to help -- work through that so.
More lawyers on campaigns.
And I just have to rethink a lot of what they've been what they've.
Done in the past.
But defense lawyers told jurors doing during opening statements that the money was.
Private gifts from friends intended to protect the Edwards family from embarrassment over the affair shot.
Back during that a fair a campaign -- name in -- young.
Was put -- smack dead in the middle of this thing what can we expect when he testifies.
Yet we're expecting to hear it to see him take the stand this afternoon he was really the logistics -- man who handled that nearly.
Million dollars in question and it's the prosecution's.
Key witness testifying in exchange for immunity but the defense is trying to poke holes.
In his credibility.
During opening statements edwards' lawyers claimed that young used to most of the money in question.
To build his own how.
House in Chapel Hill the judge allowed edwards' lawyers to tell jurors.
They young had contacted.
Other witnesses in the past two weeks but they could not refer to it.
As witness tampering shot.
Jonathan Andrew Young was the man who at one point said he was the father of that child right.
He did indeed he claimed paternity of the child but later he had a falling out with the Edwards and wrote a tell all book and so he is gone from.
Being one of Edwards staunchest defenders to being the prosecution's.
Key witness in this case.
Complicated at very least Jonathan Serrie thank you with a -- a criminal -- attorney Randy Zell and his bat.
And public relations consultant -- -- tell as the president of the PR firm emerald partners what PR wise I don't know how the evening to be much more remiss in this this.
No no no -- -- relations may be edwards' best shot.
I was in May shepherd.
Every.
Public opinion poll this guy is one of the most despised Americans as a country with car dash -- in drums and sharpton's.
He has a 3% favorability rating among Americans so when I percent 3% so what I would say is somebody you know.
Regardless of the litigation somebody's got to try to humanize this guy he's acknowledge that what he did was awful.
He's expressed remorse particularly for his late wife who was beloved in the country but.
He said look at I'm not guilty.
These contributions weren't designed for the campaign they would design for a cover up just like they contributed to Bill Clinton to defend him on on liaisons and so on.
They've got to try to humanize him a little bit.
Randy the issue for the for the legal purposes here is not the -- is or the baby or Andrew Young pertain to be the baby's father.
Or any of the sordid details go along with this it's what this money was four when it came it.
And what John Edwards knew the money was for.
You are 1000%.
Right and that's for jury selection becomes critical.
It's very important to have jurors on that panel who will say look I'm only interest in any evidence I don't have to like the guy the 450 dollar haircuts his wife is dying of cancer.
He's having an affair he gets somebody -- pregnant there's a cover up it's real simple there is a law.
And the government has to prove that John Edwards -- do.
So there's really two hurdles for the government one was the money used as a gift.
Or was -- for campaign contributions one of the main contributors is dead you don't have his testimony so what was it four.
And what the John Edwards knew and if they can't prove knowledge he.
Walks -- there's always this danger or -- -- you wanna put the word that there will be some degree jury nullification here and a jury at least we'll go prove.
-- this man offer anything no sure well this is why you've got to humanize him and this guy was was known as one of the smarmy this guy's been.
Arrogance that is not a fight and you noted you -- you -- shows you -- just another.
Cautionary tale.
Why guys like this surround themselves with cycle -- he's -- this this this Andrew Young character who claim that he had a baby that Edwards had.
These guys have to surround themselves with people are gonna tell them what's going on read the riot act -- and tell the truth version -- thank you for.
