On John Edwards

Lawyers for the federal government are then expected to begin their case, arguing that nearly a million dollars that two wealthy donors gave to Mr. Edwards constitute illegal campaign contributions and were not, as he has claimed, aid from friends trying to help him hide an affair from his wife.

and

The government’s case is simple: Mr. Edwards knowingly accepted the money from the two donors and used it to keep information from the public that would have surely torpedoed his presidential campaign. Thus, the money was a campaign contribution and its use a conspiracy.

Edwards has been indicted on 6 felony counts (none of which are perjury):

• a conspiracy to accept and receive illegal payments
• false reports to the Federal Election Commission
• four counts of contributions which were in excess of federal limits