Edwards Fights Campaign Finance Case

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Edwards Fights Campaign Finance Case

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Lawyers for John Edwards will head to federal court here on Wednesday to ask a judge to dismiss charges that he violated campaign finance laws by using money from two wealthy benefactors to support his pregnant mistress during his run for the presidency in 2008.


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John Edwards leaving court after his indictment in June.
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.His lawyers contend that the government has exceeded the reach of federal election laws.

In a series of filings, Mr. Edwards, a former senator from North Carolina and the 2004 Democratic vice-presidential nominee, argued that the nearly $1 million that was used to keep secret his relationship with Rielle Hunter, a campaign videographer with whom he had a daughter, came in the form of gifts — not campaign contributions.

Prosecutors argue that the payments were in fact campaign contributions because they were intended to help hide information that could damage Mr. Edwards politically. They also say Mr. Edwards filed false campaign reports to cover up the payments.


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/26/us/politics/john-edwa... ;emc=rss