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Edwards Defense Team to Make Its Case

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  • Description

    Corruption trial continues

  • Duration 2:23
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You don't really depends on which legal expert you're talking to they go back and forth whether it's -- -- to -- we'd be advisable.

For the defense to call on their own client to testify.

But one former federal prosecutor says he believes that Edwards will.

At some point during the defense testimony.

Take the stand and addressed the jury using her as persuasive skills as both a lawyer and a politician listen.

Given the nature of the charges and the defense and that he didn't.

Believe he was violating campaign finance laws I think only John Edwards can deliver that message.

But curious Shanahan believes it's unlikely we'll see real hunter the mistress testify.

The prosecution never called on her and her testimony would potentially be even riskier for the defense because she brings up memories of the affair and all the hurt.

That it caused Elizabeth Edwards bill so now we're trying to figure out the defense strategy here -- they get a to a robust defense of their a lot of witnesses to be called or not.

You know where they they have an extensive list but that's no guarantee that they're going to be calling all of the witnesses on the list it appears that their strategy is going to be.

Shifting the focus of the trial from the morality of the affair to the legality behind the cover up there trying to show that John Edwards was largely unaware of all the money that was going into hiding real honor and that what ever his involvement was in the cover up that it was motivated by a desire to protect his wife not his campaign now on Friday as the defense tried unsuccessfully to get the judge to drop the case.

Against John Edwards lead defense lawyer Abbe Lowell argued quote.

Mr.

Edwards could have expenses for a baby if he had a campaign or if he didn't have a campaign.

Mr.

Edwards would -- an affair if he was or wasn't a candidate.

And looking at today's defense witness list we have former election commission chairman Scott Thomas we have up political pollster Harrison Hickman.

Former edwards' lawyer Wade Smith as well as a former campaign finance officer Laura haggard all of them expected to focus more on the like legality.

Of the cover up.

Rather than dwelling on all of the moral issues and all of the hurt.

That the affair caused John edwards' cancer stricken wife Elizabeth --

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