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Former Senator John Edwards gained a huge reprieve from the scandal and legal convolutions that had been dogging him after twelve jurors acquitted him on one count of accepting illegal campaign contributions and deadlocked over the rest. U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles, had no other options, after the marathon 9-day deliberation of the jury, than to acquit Edwards on the most serious count and declare a mistrial on the other five.
The six-week long trial that resembled a gossip show more than a courtroom trial with details about sex affairs, phone calls, secret donors and supporters spilling the beans reached a soap-opera end with the hero  persevering and walking free against all odds and common sense. The jury verdict marked the end of another chapter in the life of the two-time presidential hopeful.
Standing before the federal courthouse in Greennsboro, after the jury had given its verdict, Edwards maintained his innocence and spoke of his love for his 4-year old daughter with Rielle Hunter. Edwards was accompanied by his parents and his 30-year old daughter, Cate.
“While I do not believe I did anything illegal, or ever though I was doing anything illegal, I did an awful, awful lot that was wrong, and there is no one else responsible for my sins,†he said. Speaking candidly to the media, Edwards said “I am responsible, and if I want to find the person who should be held accountable for my sins, honestly I don’t have to go any further than the mirror. It’s me. It is me and me alone.â€
It is unlikely that the Justice Department would retry Edwards as the major count has fallen through and there is an official jury verdict in place.
The government, or those who run it currently, tried their level best to put new interpretations on the law related to financing political campaigns and accused that Edwards had funneled more than $900.000 from heiress Rachel “Bunny†Mellon and trial lawyer Fred Baron to Edward’s then-mistress Hunter and campaign-aide Andrew Young.
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Young, who was provided immunity from the government to play chief witness against Edwards ultimately dashed hopes of the government prosecutors and was found untrustworthy. Several other key people involved in the case were unable to come before the court due to personal limitations. Mellon is 101 years old and was physically unable to attend. Fred Baron died in 2008 and Elizabeth Edwards died in 2010.
