Jurors in Edwards trial will resume talks Monday

GREENSBORO, N.C. — A jury deliberated for about five hours Friday in John Edwards’ campaign corruption trial involving money from wealthy donors that was used to hide his pregnant mistress during his 2008 White House bid. Talks will resume Monday, but the jury has already made several requests for evidence and office supplies, a sign they may be settling in for detailed discussions.

Jurors heard about 17 days of testimony, a lot of it focusing on the details of the lurid sex scandal between the Democratic candidate, his mistress Rielle Hunter and his once-trusted aide Andrew Young, who initially claimed he was the father of his boss’s baby. But they also reviewed phone and financial records from a period of about two years.

Edwards is charged with six criminal counts including conspiracy to violate the Federal Election Campaign Act, accepting contributions that exceeded campaign finance limits, and causing his campaign to file a false financial disclosure report. He faces up to 30 years in prison and $1.5 million in fines if convicted of all charges.

Jurors asked for eight exhibits and all of the notes from a wealthy heiress who provided about half of the money at issue. They also wanted a transcript of the heiress’ lawyer’s testimony, but the judge told them to rely on their memory. They said they need markers and a board to write on, too.

Jurors will have to weigh whether to believe Edwards, who argued that he didn’t knowingly break the law, or his aide, Andrew Young, who said Edwards recruited him to solicit secret donations in excess of the legal limit for campaign contributions, then $2,300.

The choice before them comes down to choosing which liar to believe.

Young, the prosecution’s star witness, falsely claimed paternity of his boss’s baby in December 2007, after tabloid reporters tracked a visibly pregnant Hunter to a doctor’s appointment.

Edwards repeatedly denied having a relationship with Hunter, only to go on national television in August 2008 to admit having a brief affair with Hunter but that it was physically impossible he was the father of her baby girl. In fact, his relationship with Hunter had lasted more than a year. A recording of that interview was played for the jury last week as the prosecution rested its case.

The bulk of the alleged illegal campaign contributions flowed to Young, including $725,000 in checks from heiress Rachel “Bunny” Mellon, who is now 101 years old. Young spent some of the money to care for Hunter, but financial records introduced at the trial showed the aide siphoned off most of the money to help build his family’s $1.6 million dream home near Chapel Hill.

Another $400,000 in cash, luxury hotels, private jets rides and a $20,000-a-month rental mansion in Santa Barbara, Calif., were also provided by wealthy Texas lawyer Fred Baron to help cover up the affair. Baron served as Edwards’ campaign finance chairman.

Prosecutors say Edwards knew about the money and directed the cover-up, showing the jury phone records indicating he was in constant contact with Hunter and Young while they were in hiding.

The defense countered that it is Young who should be on trial, not Edwards, accusing the aide of using Edwards’ name without his knowledge to bamboozle Mellon out of hundreds of thousands of dollars for his personal use. Young received immunity from prosecutors.

During closing arguments Thursday, lead defense lawyer Abbe Lowell admitted that Edwards had lied to his wife and the American people. But his client didn’t violate federal campaign finance regulations, Lowell said.

“This is a case that should define the difference between a wrong and a crime … between a sin and a felony,” Lowell told the jury. “John Edwards has confessed his sins. He will serve a life sentence for those. But he has pleaded not guilty to violating the law.”

The eight-man, four-woman jury includes a retired firefighter, a plumber as well as a corporate vice president and retired accountant. One juror recounted handing out pamphlets supporting Democratic President Barack Obama in 2008, while another said he had put out signs supporting Republican candidates.

SportsPlus

Mower County

Photos: Singing the song of the season

Mower County

Driver in crash that injured Wyatt Hamlin arrested in Tennessee

Mower County

UPDATE: Thursday brings another chance for snow, winter weather advisory issued

Brownsdale

Alamo Annie’s in Brownsdale closing

News

Government funding plan collapses as Trump makes new demands days before shutdown

Mower County

‘It’s Love’: Nativity display grows, reflects the hope of the holidays

Local Government

County Board passes new cannabis ordinance

Mower County

Minnesota DNR shares reminders about the snowmobile riding season

News

Minnesota man gets life without parole for killing girlfriend who was the subject of a 69-day search

Mower County

Institute Scientists publish paper revealing first atomic-resolution of parvovirus of humans

Mower County

In Your Community: Early Riser’s Kiwanis Club donates to Masons

Mower County

In Your Community: Shriners install officers

Education

Education Briefs

Local Government

City Council approves levy increase of 11.97% for 2025

Mower County

Commissioners hold Truth in Taxation meeting, levy increase at 4.99%

News

5 dead, others injured in a shooting at a private Christian school in Wisconsin

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

Austin man accused of possessing and disseminating child pornography

Mower County

Photos: The holidays ring during Christmas in the County

Business

Right at home: Edward Jones branch celebrates new location on Oakland Avenue

Mower County

Mower woman tells story of avoided scam, warns others to beware

Mower County

Sheriff Sandvik completes the National Sheriffs’ Institute’s Leadership Development Course

News

Minnesota special education costs climbing rapidly as more students qualify for services

Mower County

In Your Community: Duplicate Bridge

Mower County

In Your Community: Mower County Senior Center