Article

2011-06-05 -Lurid Crime Tales-

Ex-U.S. Presidential Candidate Indicted in $900,000 Mistress Cover-up

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Posted by Fred 2011-06-05 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11126 views ] Top

#1 "I did not break the law and I never ever thought that I was breaking the law," said Edwards

Based soley on his own 'legal opinion' of coures.

Posted by Besoeker sans poste 2011-06-05 00:46|| 2011-06-05 00:46|| Front Page Top

#2 At least Schwarzenegger used his own money.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2011-06-05 02:28|| 2011-06-05 02:28|| Front Page Top

#3 Can anyone blame Johnny for thinking he would get a pass? Clinton's inappropriate behavior (before & in office) was ignored by the press and he was given a pass. Luckily the ever respectable ~~NYT's~~ National Inquirer broke the story.

Posted by airandee 2011-06-05 06:58|| 2011-06-05 06:58|| Front Page Top

#4 At least Schwarzenegger used his own money.

Not part of the lawyer's code. Could get disbarred for that.

Posted by regular joe 2011-06-05 09:25|| 2011-06-05 09:25|| Front Page Top

#5 And he would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for that meddling National Inquirer. The MSM was perfectly willing to be complicit in the cover-up.

Posted by CincinnatusChili 2011-06-05 10:44|| 2011-06-05 10:44|| Front Page Top

#6 Actually, the prosecution's theory of the case presents interesting legal questions. He's being charged under the Election Act for soliciting and receiving about $900k from two private individuals, while a candidate for federal office, all of whom knew the money was going to be used to cover up the affair and the baby, not for legitimate campaign expenses. He's also being charged for filing false statements with the FEC because he failed to report these contributions.

The prosecution's position is, these were illegal campaign contributions, because the money to fund the cover-up was for the purpose of advancing (or rather, preventing the ruination of) his presidential campaign; they exceeded the $25,000 limit; and Edwards didn't report them because he knew they were illegal. The indictment directly links his need to preserve his image as a devoted family man to the viability of his campaign.

The defense position is, Edwards was a private individual who used money from other private individuals to hide the affair and the baby from his wife, not to further his campaign. He was a scumbag in his capacity as a private individual, which is separate and distinct from his actions as a candidate for federal office. These were all private acts and private money which therefore did not need to be reported to the FEC. That these things occurred concurrently with his candidacy is just an unfortunate coincidence.

That would be a much stronger argument if the baby momma was not also a paid campaign staff member, and one of the two "private" donors was not also his campaign finance chairman.

Being a scumbag isn't illegal, and neither is being stupid. But as an ambulance chaser, surely he was fully aware that improperly commingling client funds with personal accounts is the number one reason lawyers get disciplined and disbarred. And the Election Act was written by lawyers who likely meant to apply a similar standard to political candidates. There are, surprisingly, a few good points to be made in his defense, but I'd say he's toast.

Just my $0.02. Popcorn!

Posted by RandomJD 2011-06-05 13:26|| 2011-06-05 13:26|| Front Page Top

#7 "Just my $0.02. Popcorn!"

Extra butter with that, RJD? ;-p

Posted by Barbara Skolaut 2011-06-05 15:30|| 2011-06-05 15:30|| Front Page Top

#8 Yes, if it's tried before a jury!

Posted by RandomJD 2011-06-05 17:36|| 2011-06-05 17:36|| Front Page Top

#9 Seems to me to be a pretty broad expansion of what the campaign contribution laws cover. A bit frightening to see where a malevolent prosecutor could take this in the future with this as a precedent.

Posted by OldSpook 2011-06-05 18:18|| 2011-06-05 18:18|| Front Page Top

#10 OS, I had the same thought. On one hand, the connections between the money and the campaign are numerous and strong enough that allowing him to rationalize it away as strictly private activity just wouldn't seem right. On the other hand, politics are already so viciously personal, a conviction would open the door to ratchet it up another level, in situations far less egregious than this one. The exorbitant personal price already deters too many decent people from running for office.

Posted by RandomJD 2011-06-05 18:39|| 2011-06-05 18:39|| Front Page Top

#11 Seems to me to be a pretty broad expansion of what the campaign contribution laws cover

Well, yes. It's more or less a political assassination of a political embarassment. Not that Mr. Edwards might not deserve it, but it does allow the Democrats to say they are capable of "cleaning house".

That it also sets an ugly precedent is, for its advocates, a two-fer.

Posted by Pappy 2011-06-05 22:16|| 2011-06-05 22:16|| Front Page Top

#12 Yokay, I'll bite, Edwards has formally PLEADED "NOT GUILTY" TO DOING WRONG = DOIN' DA BAD???

Thank goodness thats settled.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2011-06-05 23:21|| 2011-06-05 23:21|| Front Page Top

#13 it does allow the Democrats to say they are capable of "cleaning house"

Pappy: I don't think so. Edwards and Obama were rivals, so it would look bad if the winner tried to put the loser in prison. After the election, IIUC, a Republican DOJ appointee was kept on board to make the call and manage the case.

So don't worry. It's all still Bush's fault.

Posted by RandomJD 2011-06-05 23:46|| 2011-06-05 23:46|| Front Page Top

00:04 trailing wife
00:00 trailing wife
23:54 CrazyFool
23:47 CrazyFool
23:46 RandomJD
23:41 JosephMendiola
23:31 JosephMendiola
23:23 Water Modem
23:21 JosephMendiola
23:16 JosephMendiola
23:15 Zebulon Thranter9685
23:10 Anguper Hupomosing9418
23:10 Water Modem
22:58 JosephMendiola
22:49 JosephMendiola
22:25 Zebulon Thranter9685
22:17 Barbara Skolaut
22:16 Pappy
22:14 Zebulon Thranter9685
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21:57 Redneck Jim
21:50 Pappy
21:41 Anguper Hupomosing9418
21:36 Anguper Hupomosing9418