Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards sat through federal court hearings on Wednesday as his Lawyers tried to get an indictment against him dismissed.
Wearing a navy blue suit, red tie and wedding ring, the former two-time Presidential Candidate listened to a contentious hearing yesterday.
Lead attorney Abbie Lowell called the charges against his client “radical”, “crazy” and an “abuse of prosecutorial discretion.” The defense says the charges are unprecedented, and asked why Edwards is being tried in the middle district of North Carolina when all of the alleged incidents happened elsewhere.
Prosecutors say money provided to a mistress represents a knowing and willful violation of campaign finance law. The government says all charges went through proper channels and the venue is a natural choice due based on his residence. The former senator was indicted in June on six felony charges. He fathered a child with former campaign staffer Rielle Hunter. She then received nearly $1,000,000 to keep quiet.
Court is back in session Thursday morning when the Judge is expected to rule on some of the dismissal motions.