 |
| Former North Carolina Senator and Presidential candidate John Edwards |
Caryn Freeman 5:05PM EST
Former North Carolina Senator and Presidential candidate John Edwards was indicted in federal court today on charges of conspiracy to violate federal election law when he attempted to conceal his extramarital affair from the public and his wife at the time Elizabeth Edwards, who died of cancer last December. The indictment includes contains six counts, including conspiracy, four counts of illegal campaign contributions and one count of false statements.
Former North Carolina Senator and Presidential candidate John Edwards was indicted in federal court today on charges of conspiracy to violate federal election law when he attempted to conceal his extramarital affair from the public and his wife at the time Elizabeth Edwards, who died of cancer last December. The indictment includes contains six counts, including conspiracy, four counts of illegal campaign contributions and one count of false statements.
Edward's denies breaking the law and alleges the money spent to shuffle Rielle Hunter around the country, in an attempt to keep Hunter from the media during his 2008 campaign were gifts from friends and family members. The indictment charges that funds were specifically solicited and accepted to conceal the affair and protect his candidacy. "The purpose of the conspiracy was to protect and advance EDWARDS' candidacy for President of the United States by secretly obtaining and using hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions well in excess of the Election's Act limit to conceal EDWARDS' extramarital affair and pregnancy of his child," the indictment states.
The indictment later reveals the prosecutions theory into the means and manner through which the conspiracy was accomplished “The conspiracy was accomplished through the following manner and means among others. EDWARDS' and his co-conspirators, working individually and together directly and indirectly: in order to protect and advance EDWARDS' candidacy for President of the United States, solicited and accepted approximately $725,000.” If convicted Edwards face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The indictment later reveals the prosecutions theory into the means and manner through which the conspiracy was accomplished “The conspiracy was accomplished through the following manner and means among others. EDWARDS' and his co-conspirators, working individually and together directly and indirectly: in order to protect and advance EDWARDS' candidacy for President of the United States, solicited and accepted approximately $725,000.” If convicted Edwards face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Read the full indictment @ http://www.businessinsider.com/john-edwards-indictment-department-of-justice-2011-6