04-23-2012, 03:57 PM
Prosecutors on Monday described John Edwards as a "master manipulator," as both sides delivered opening arguments in the case examining whether Edwards' cover-up of his affair with Rielle Hunter was a federal crime.
The juicy trial began at a federal courthouse in North Carolina with high stakes. Edwards, one of the nation's most accomplished politicians before his 2008 fall from grace, faces a lengthy prison sentence if convicted -- it is still not clear whether the former trial lawyer will take the stand in his own defense.
Government attorneys argued Monday that Edwards, the former U.S. senator and Democratic presidential candidate, knew two wealthy contributors had provided the nearly $1 million to hide his pregnant mistress. They said the donations were tantamount to "campaign contributions" intended to preserve Edwards' "family man" image during his 2008 campaign.
But the defense argued the donations were merely "private money"
intended to protect Edwards' family from embarrassment. Edwards' lawyers told jurors most of the money, which was handled by former campaign staffer Andrew Young, went toward building Young's new house in Chapel Hill, N.C.
The juicy trial began at a federal courthouse in North Carolina with high stakes. Edwards, one of the nation's most accomplished politicians before his 2008 fall from grace, faces a lengthy prison sentence if convicted -- it is still not clear whether the former trial lawyer will take the stand in his own defense.
Government attorneys argued Monday that Edwards, the former U.S. senator and Democratic presidential candidate, knew two wealthy contributors had provided the nearly $1 million to hide his pregnant mistress. They said the donations were tantamount to "campaign contributions" intended to preserve Edwards' "family man" image during his 2008 campaign.
But the defense argued the donations were merely "private money"
intended to protect Edwards' family from embarrassment. Edwards' lawyers told jurors most of the money, which was handled by former campaign staffer Andrew Young, went toward building Young's new house in Chapel Hill, N.C.