Indictment for John Edwards within days?

[cali]

John Edwards investigation: Charges near?

WASHINGTON — A two-year grand jury investigation of John Edwards has reached a decisive point. Prosecutors believe they have a strong case, but have not yet gotten a green light from the Justice Department to charge the former presidential candidate, NBC News has learned. The issue: did Edwards violate election laws by trying to cover up his affair with a campaign videographer, Rielle Hunter.

Sources close to the investigation say Justice Department attorneys are now conducting a final review of evidence, and an indictment could come within days or weeks. In what could be an ominous development for Edwards, prosecutors already are making arrangements to record the sworn testimony of a key witness for possible use in a future trial, said the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“It would be surprising now if he wasn’t indicted,” said Stephen Saltzburg, a former federal prosecutor and George Washington University law professor. “If John Edwards was aware that money was being paid to hide his mistress... and it was done to help his campaign, then he’s in trouble.”

Edwards’ attorney, Wade Smith, recently said, “We do not believe there is evidence that John has violated any election laws.” John Edwards, 57, has repeatedly said that he did nothing wrong, and a spokesperson said he remains optimistic that the investigation will confirm that.

<snip>

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/41589152

[stevenleser]

1. Ugh. n/t

[Horse with no Name]

2. Take note

This is what will happen to ANYONE that speaks of helping the poor.
Of course, to be fair, John Ensign was ousted from him seat in the Senate...oh wait...

[cali]

4. oh please. JE did this to himself and it had jack to do with his

opportunistic, phony concern for the poor. How do you explain that nothing like this has happened to Bernie Sanders?

That said, this just seems like a distraction.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. Oh, please. Edwards talked a good line but he never did squat

for the poor. His foundation that he formed to make himself look good has mysteriously become inactive. If he is indicted it will be because he misused campaign fund - donated by people like us - to cover up the fact he was shtupping some floozy while his wife was dying of cancer. He deserves whatever he gets. Help the poor, my ass.

[karynnj]

24. No only that - that foundation PAID over $100,000 as their share of the Rielle tapes

I can see that video for a website is useful for a campaign, but what is the value of seeing JRE in a less formal way of any value to his center.

It does look like he will be charged from the newer links - here's one:

A two-year grand jury investigation of John Edwards has reached a decisive point. Prosecutors believe they have a strong case, but have not yet gotten a green light from the Justice Department to charge the former presidential candidate, NBC News has learned. The issue: did Edwards violate election laws by trying to cover up his affair with a campaign videographer, Rielle Hunter.

Sources close to the investigation say Justice Department attorneys are now conducting a final review of evidence, and an indictment could come within days or weeks. In what could be an ominous development for Edwards, prosecutors already are making arrangements to record the sworn testimony of a key witness for possible use in a future trial, said the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“It would be surprising now if he wasn’t indicted,” said Stephen Saltzburg, a former federal prosecutor and George Washington University law professor. “If John Edwards was aware that money was being paid to hide his mistress... and it was done to help his campaign, then he’s in trouble.”

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/41589152

[Township75]

39. Best post ever.

Half the people here would hammer Edwards for the piece of shit he is if he didn't have a D by his name.

The guy is dogshit and if he is guilty of misusing campaign funds, then I hope he gets nailed for it.

[Lisa D]

8. No, this is what happens to someone who may have violated election law.

Fortunately for him, John Edwards has more than enough money to mount a strong defense, unlike so many of the poor in this country.

[tammywammy]

25. Exactly. n/t

[karynnj]

9. This has NOTHING to do with "speaks of the poor"

There are plenty of people who speak for the poor - and actually WRITE LEGISLATION to help them. I still don't get people who believe that there was anything original (or authentic) in Edwards 2008 platform. I agree that Ensign should be out too - and there still is an ethics investigation.

This is about a man, who if guilty used campaign funds, to maintain his mistress and Young who was with her in high style.

Think about this:
Unless the $250,000 for a few video clips produced by someone with no special expertise is part of the issue. On that, what do you think of the fact that over $100,000 of that came from money for his poverty center. The only "poverty" that could have helped was Rielle's.

Now think that the million or so spent to hide her was when she was pregnant - AFTER Elizabeth Edwards knew of the affair. The baby was conceived after he admitted the affair to his wife. He could have avoided charges had he just used his OWN MONEY. As to him not knowing, he had to have known that somehow she was paying for the lifestyle she had.

[ananda]

3. So what, it's back to Salem and the Scarlet Letter days?

Sheesh. If every politician who lied or hid info during a campaign
were investigated and indicted, who would be left? Not many.

[cali]

6. His cheating is not the legal issue here. n/t

[karynnj]

11. He is not being charged with having an affair

He is MAYBE going to be charged with misusing campaign funds. There is NO ONE who should be angrier than Edwards supporters who sacrificed to send him money. Not to mention, do you think that his poverty center should have chipped in $100,000 for the making of her videos?

The galling thing is that he is a multi-millionaire and could have used his own money.

[hedgehog]

15. I know one of my kids sent him $20 out of her pay for a summer job.

[Pisces]

12. I guess we should ignore what we know. I am glad certain politicians merit the blind eye

for you. This guy deserves everything that he's getting and more. He risked it all for 2 bit, fame hungry slut??? And when I say all, he risked the presidency going to McCain/Palin for a dalliance??????

Never mind his family, friends etc. He had a larger responsibility to the public who were donating and voting for him.

[Buzz Clik]

5. Good god. Are there not more pressing issues?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. Of course - but if a candidate for the presidency

(whom many of us supported and donated to) used campaign funds donated to him to cover up some personal shenanigans, that's news, and it's not insignificant.

[wtmusic]

14. Exactly. There are civil remedies for anyone who feels they've been wronged.

“There must not be much other crime in North Carolina,” said one former public corruption prosecutor. “What’s the point of pursuing this kind of case against a guy who’s already been thoroughly disgraced?”

[hedgehog]

16. There are pressing isues, and there is reality. What would have happened

if John Edwards had made a deal for the VP nomination, then halfway through the campaign all his dirty laundry come falling out?

Helloooo President Palin!

[wtmusic]

17. Edwards would have resigned, Biden would have taken his place.

Edwards never had a shot at it anyway. IMO, the supposedly-inconsequential "I Feel Pretty" video was his downfall - it betrayed his vanity, then his vanity betrayed him.

[hedgehog]

18. Maybe McGovern never had a chance, but once the news came out that

his choice for VP had undergone shock treatments, he was toast.

[wtmusic]

19. Very true.

As a 12-year-old McGovern supporter, that one hit home.

[karynnj]

21. I don't think it was either - I think it was that Edwards had nothing that helped Obama in the GE

Obama had more charisma and excitement than he needed. He needed someone who could credibly be said to have foreign policy and national security credentials and/or someone who really connected with the blue collar people. (That was what JRE was said to have in 2004 - by 2008, that was not as much the case as he had moved too far to the left for many.) Biden had both.

There was also the fact that there were many people in Obama's campaign who came from the Kerry campaign. The fact that ZERO of the Kerry strategists or finance people, who were with Kerry until he gave a speech opting not to run went to Edwards. The word was that he was very uncooperative and often promised to do things that he then did not do. There is NO WAY with that reputation that Obama would have taken him. He didn't have enough to offer to make up for that - in 2004, there was no hint that he would not be a team player, especially as he played the part in the last few weeks before he conceded.

[wtmusic]

27. You're right, and I think the stumbling block was his own vanity. nt

[Nye Bevan]

37. That's what I said to the cop last time I got a speeding ticket.

He gave me the ticket anyway.

[Buzz Clik]

38. Bad analogy, but if it's the best you've got...

:shrug:

[Little Star]

10. Thank you for posting this...

I know some will not like it, but too bad. I hope other politicians are paying attention and if he gets found guilty it might be a deterrent to them.

He talked a good populous message but he was anything but a populist. He was all about himself.

[olegramps]

20. I am so glad to see them going after Edwards and not being diverted to go after Bush and Co.

[karynnj]

23. The two things have nothing to do with each other

[olegramps]

29. I didn't know they had unlimited resources. Of course Edwards crime takes presidence.

[karynnj]

30. Edwards was said to have at least $26 million in 2004

He never self funded either of his campaigns - it would have shown up in FEC documents. It is true that he may have been afraid that Elizabeth would see it, but the big money was spent after EE at least knew they had an affair and was covering it up.

[Freddie Stubbs]

34. Do you believe that the Obama administration is not going after Bush due to lack of resources?

[olegramps]

35. Do you understand sarcasm?

[Ezlivin]

22. Aren't there some Bush cabinet members due for indictments?

Surely war crimes should count for something.

Oh, wait, that's right: It didn't involve sex.

Never mind.

[n2doc]

26. I guess Sen. Ensign doesn't merit the same full throttle treatment n/t

[karynnj]

31. I think he does - and I think his investigation is not over

The question may be whether he used campaign or public money for anything related to his affair.

[ehrnst]

28. What about Christine O'Donnell using campaign dollars to pay rent? (nt)

[karynnj]

32. Why do you think she is under investigation?

The Edwards investigation has been going on for at least 2 years - maybe 3.

[superduperfarleft]

33. Shocked, I tell ya.

I had no idea that Edwards was a self-absorbed scumbag this entire time!

[davidpdx]

36. Go after Sanford too