John Edwards was the Democratic Candidate that, while running for office, was shown to have a pregnant mistress. In 2007 he asked for money from two wealthy donors Fred Mellon and Rachael Mellon and asked them to give his pregnant mistress hush money. He did not want her to reveal to the public that she was pregnant with his child and hoped to keep his image as a good family man.
John Edwards has been arrested and charged with campaign finance crimes. There are very strict laws about where a candidate for any public office in America is allowed to receive money for his campaign from, and how they are allowed to spend it.
This case isn’t open and shut however because there are two basic questions. One was the money Edwards asked for his campaign, to keep up his image, or was the money to help his marriage and to keep it intact. If the money was for his campaign, and to maintain his image then yes he broke the law, but if the money was to save his marriage then he broke no laws.
Here’s the other question, can he be prosecuted? Edwards has already stated that he won’t take a plea deal, so this is going to trial. Edwards reputation was heavily tarnished due to this incident so can he receive a fair trial? Honestly, I think Edwards was criminally stupid. He asked for that money to hide his affair, so he would get elected. And with the backlash of Arnold Schwarzenegger hiding his affair, Edwards will get no sympathy in the public eye.
