John Edwards arrives at a federal courthouse for his trial on charges of campaign corruption in Greensboro, N.C., Wednesday, May 16, 2012. Edwards has pleaded not guilty to six counts related to campaign finance violations over nearly $1 million from two wealthy donors used to help hide the Democrat’s pregnant mistress as he sought the White House in 2008. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)MICHAEL BIESECKER
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) – With only two hours allotted to each side to make closing arguments Thursday, prosecutors and defense lawyers neared the end of a month-long trial into whether former presidential candidate John Edwards violated campaign finance laws.
Edwards has pleaded not guilty to six criminal counts related to campaign finance violations stemming from nearly $1 million secretly provided by two wealthy donors that helped hide his pregnant mistress during the 2008 Democratic primary. He faces up to 30 years in prison and $1.5 million in fines if convicted of all charges.
Prosecutors likely will argue the payments were intended to influence the outcome of an election by keeping Edwards’ political hopes viable. Defense lawyers will counter that Edwards had limited knowledge of the cover-up and that the payments were gifts intended to keep his cancer-stricken wife from leaning about the out-of-wedlock pregnancy.
U.S. District Court Judge Catherine C. Eagles set the two-hour limit for closing arguments. The jury is expected to begin deliberating Friday.