John Edwards Judge Refuses to Dismiss Case - East Idaho News
National News

John Edwards Judge Refuses to Dismiss Case

  Published at

Getty P FmrSenatorJohnEdwards?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1336754888476Chris Hondros/Getty Images(GREENSBORO, N.C.) — A federal judge Friday rejected defense lawyers’ arguments that the case against John Edwards should be thrown out because there “was not one ounce of evidence” that the former presidential candidate broke the law by using nearly $1 million in donations to hide his mistress.

Instead, Edwards’ lawyer Abbe Lowell said the disgraced former senator was simply trying to “extricate his family from indignity.”

U.S. District Court Judge Catherine C. Eagles ruled that the case would continue, ordering the defense to ready witnesses for testimony on Monday.

The judge did not buy Edwards’ lawyers argument that the case should be dismissed because the government failed to “prove beyond a reasonable doubt… that Edwards with knowledge… violated campaign finance laws.”

Edwards is accused of using nearly $1 million from wealthy donors to hide his affair with mistress Rielle Hunter and to keep secret that she gave birth to his baby during his bid for the 2008 presidential nomination.

Edwards, however, contends the donations were personal gifts meant to be used at his discretion, including keeping the affair a secret from his wife.

The prosecution wrapped its case on Thursday after 14 days of testimony. Edwards is charged with six counts of violating the federal campaign finance law. He could be sentenced to a maximum of 30 years in prison and more than $1 million in fines if convicted.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

SUBMIT A CORRECTION