Andrew Young

Andrew Young Complicates John Edwards Trial By Contacting Other Witnesses

Ryan J. Reilly | April 23, 2012, 1:16PM

The Justice Department's star witness in the case against former presidential candidate John Edwards has complicated the prosecution of the North Carolina Democrat by reaching out to other witnesses in the case in a violation of the law.

U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles said that Young called three other witnesses in the last two weeks and that Edwards' legal team could mention the phone calls but not use the phrase "witness tampering," according to the Associated Press.

Read more »

John Edwards

Trial Of Fallen Democratic Star John Edwards Opens

Ryan J. Reilly | April 23, 2012, 5:45AM

Former Senator and Presidential Candidate John Edwards

Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards goes on trial Monday, charged with accepting money federal authorities contend were campaign donations to cover up his affair with videographer Rielle Hunter and the fact that he fathered her daughter.

One key issue to be settled at trial is whether the money that came via two wealthy Edwards friends, which was used to support Hunter and her daughter and keep the affair secret, really constituted a campaign donation.

But first there's another issue to settle: whether Edwards knew about the money being funneled to Hunter at all.

Read more »

John Edwards

'John' Edwards? Former Dem Presidential Candidate 'Categorically Denies' Using Prostitute

Ryan J. Reilly | March 22, 2012, 1:00PM

John Edwards

Former North Carolina Senator and Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards is denying a report that he used the services of a prostitute in New York while he was fundraising for his 2008 campaign.

Former New York Post reporter Murray Weiss, writing for DNAInfo.com writes that sources told him a call girl for "Millionaire Madam" Anna Gristina told investigators she had sex with Edwards for money back in 2007. Lawyers for Edwards didn't respond to Weiss' requests for comment but denied the report after it hit the web Thursday morning.

Read more »

John Edwards

Feds Don't Want John Edwards Defense To Mention Health Issues, Contempt Order Over Sex Tape

Ryan J. Reilly | March 19, 2012, 3:45PM

Federal prosecutors filed motions late last week to prevent defense lawyers for 2008 Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Edwards from bringing up issues they believe would engender sympathy from jurors serving in his upcoming trial on campaign finance charges related to his affair with a campaign videographer.

Justice Department attorneys filed separate motions asking a judge to prevent the Edwards defense team from mentioning the penalties Edwards could face if he's found guilty, his recent health issues or the fact that a witness against him was found in contempt of court over not turning over a copy of a sex tape between Edwards and his mistress Rielle Hunter.

Read more »

John Edwards

Rielle Hunter's John Edwards Sex Tape Will Be Destroyed

Ryan J. Reilly | February 23, 2012, 5:46PM

A sex tape allegedly featuring former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) with former presidential campaign videographer and mistress Rielle Hunter will almost certainly never see the light of day thanks to a legal settlement that makes the tape her property.

Hunter had sued former Edwards aide Andrew Young to gain possession of the tape, which was allegedly filmed in 2006. A spokesperson for Hunter told ABC's Raleigh affiliate that the "disputed property" would be returned to Hunter and declared the settlement a victory. The settlement says the video will destroyed.

Read more »

Anthony Weiner

Weiner Faces Mounting Legal And Ethics Questions Over Sexting Scandal

Susan Crabtree | June 7, 2011, 12:13PM

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY)

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) may be in far more ethical and legal trouble than initially thought.

New information about Weiner's use of Congressional resources to conduct extramarital online relationships -- and possibly to help manage the chaotic public relations fallout since their discovery over Memorial Day weekend -- is raising red flags for ethics watchdogs.

Read more »

Rielle Hunter

How John Edwards' $400 Haircut Lead To Alleged Illegal Donations

Ryan J. Reilly | June 3, 2011, 12:25PM

John Edwards

It was April 2007 and Bunny Mellon, a then 96-year-old wealthy supporter of former Sen. John Edwards, was angry over how the media was over-blowing the news that the North Carolina Democrat got a $400 haircut.

Read more »

John Edwards

With Reports Of An Imminent Indictment, John Edwards' Attorney Issues Defiant Statement

Susan Crabtree | May 25, 2011, 6:20PM

Rielle Hunter with her baby, and John Edwards

After reports that Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) is on the verge of being indicted for using campaign funds to cover-up an extramarital affair, his attorney Wednesday issued a defiant statement impugning the legal underpinnings of the government's case.

The statement suggests that Edwards, a onetime presidential contender, is either taking a firm stand in plea negotiations or outright fighting the charges and will opt for a trial instead of agreeing to plead guilty for a lesser charge.

Read more »

John Edwards

New Subpoenas Issued In John Edwards Campaign Probe

Ryan J. Reilly | October 7, 2010, 11:49AM

Former Presidential candidate John Edwards

Federal prosecutors have issued a new round of subpoenas in their probe of John Edwards' campaign finances -- giving the investigation seemingly stalled for a year fresh signs of life, the Associated Press reported.

Lawyer Wade Smith told the AP that he learned from other attorneys and sources that several new subpoenas were issued, but declined to discuss who received the subpoenas or what those subpoenas were seeking. Smith did not immediately return a message left by TPMMuckraker, and Justice Department spokeswoman Laura Sweeney said the department was declining comment.

But according to CNN Producer Raelyn Johnson, prosecutors are casting net "much wider than they did a year ago."

Read more »

Nancy Pelosi

Pelosi Pulled Strings For Man Who Funded Edwards' Mistress

Ryan J. Reilly | August 30, 2010, 3:02PM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi allegedly pulled strings to help a major Democratic donor, Fred Baron, get access to an experimental drug after the manufacturer refused to give permission to use the drug to treat his bone marrow cancer. Though it wasn't public at the time, Baron was simultaneously bankrolling the relocation of John Edwards' pregnant mistress, Rielle Hunter.

Fred Baron, known as the "King of Toxic Torts," built a fortune suing on behalf of asbestos victims, and died shortly before Election Day 2008 at age 61. He served as financial chief for John Edwards and it later came out that he'd been funneling money to Hunter. At the time Pelosi intervened, his role in bankrolling Hunter and her daughter with Edwards was unknown.

Read more »