DURHAM, N.C. - The witness list for the John Edwards criminal trial includes dozens of names close to the former presidential candidate, including the woman at the heart of the sex scandal that destroyed his political career.
The proposed lists of witnesses for the defense and prosecution were released late Thursday, following the start of jury selection for Edwards' federal trial in Greensboro, N.C. The Democrat faces six counts related to nearly $1 million in secret payments from two campaign donors used to help hide the married candidate's pregnant mistress as he sought the White House.
Former Edwards mistress Rielle Hunter is on the witness list, as is the former candidate's elder daughter, Cate Edwards.
As expected, former campaign aide Andrew Young is listed as a prosecution witness. Young handled the money for Hunter's care and falsely claimed paternity of Edwards' child. After repeatedly denying the affair, the former U.S. senator admitted the baby was his in 2010.
Key to the government's case is proving that Edwards, 58, knew about the payments, which prosecutors contend were illegal campaign donations under federal law.
Of course that doesn't not help him now as he moves from courtroom to courtroom with his once mesmerizing smile that juries found irresistible.
Fast forward to April, 2012 after partially clearing up the sex tape affair, settling some issues and paying fines. The North Carolina Bar Association still has many questions, but that's another story. Let's move on.
After years of investigation, denials and delays, jury selection has begun for a criminal trial against smilin' John. He is accused of funneling thousands of campaign dollars to his former mistress, among other things. He sat at the familiar defense table this time for far different reasons as about 180 potential Greensboro, NC jurors, under the supervision of U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Eagles, asked Edwards to take the stand and face them.
Showing his trademark smile, he grinned and nodded as the judge introduced him. His defense attorney talents may be of little help with these 180 jurors. They cannot be oblivious to his much publicized indiscretions and deceitful behavior, much less the sad passing of his loyal and much beloved wife, Elizabeth.
The trial was scheduled to begin in January, but was delayed after Edwards' lawyers told the judge he had a "serious heart problem that required treatment." Old delay tactics used in his previous life that may have ended in dismissal for a client. In this situation, it only left the judge and North Carolinians skeptical, if not downright cynical of Johnny's intentions.
Smiln' John faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted. If he is found guilty, his new cellmates will most likely appreciate his charismatic smile far more than his North Carolina constituents.
The proposed lists of witnesses for the defense and prosecution were released late Thursday, following the start of jury selection for Edwards' federal trial in Greensboro, N.C. The Democrat faces six counts related to nearly $1 million in secret payments from two campaign donors used to help hide the married candidate's pregnant mistress as he sought the White House.
Former Edwards mistress Rielle Hunter is on the witness list, as is the former candidate's elder daughter, Cate Edwards.
As expected, former campaign aide Andrew Young is listed as a prosecution witness. Young handled the money for Hunter's care and falsely claimed paternity of Edwards' child. After repeatedly denying the affair, the former U.S. senator admitted the baby was his in 2010.
Key to the government's case is proving that Edwards, 58, knew about the payments, which prosecutors contend were illegal campaign donations under federal law.
Of course that doesn't not help him now as he moves from courtroom to courtroom with his once mesmerizing smile that juries found irresistible.
Fast forward to April, 2012 after partially clearing up the sex tape affair, settling some issues and paying fines. The North Carolina Bar Association still has many questions, but that's another story. Let's move on.
After years of investigation, denials and delays, jury selection has begun for a criminal trial against smilin' John. He is accused of funneling thousands of campaign dollars to his former mistress, among other things. He sat at the familiar defense table this time for far different reasons as about 180 potential Greensboro, NC jurors, under the supervision of U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Eagles, asked Edwards to take the stand and face them.
Showing his trademark smile, he grinned and nodded as the judge introduced him. His defense attorney talents may be of little help with these 180 jurors. They cannot be oblivious to his much publicized indiscretions and deceitful behavior, much less the sad passing of his loyal and much beloved wife, Elizabeth.
The trial was scheduled to begin in January, but was delayed after Edwards' lawyers told the judge he had a "serious heart problem that required treatment." Old delay tactics used in his previous life that may have ended in dismissal for a client. In this situation, it only left the judge and North Carolinians skeptical, if not downright cynical of Johnny's intentions.
Smiln' John faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted. If he is found guilty, his new cellmates will most likely appreciate his charismatic smile far more than his North Carolina constituents.
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