It’s not the crime, it’s the coverup. In former Sen. and Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards’ case, literally.
A federal grand jury has indicted two-time presidential candidate John Edwards.
That’s the entirety of the WaPo story, so far. It leaves out quite a bit, including his party affiliation. Puffington Host has a bit more, while still managing to omit the “D” word.
The case of USA v. Johnny Reid Edwards contains six counts, including conspiracy, four counts of illegal campaign contributions and one count of false statements. The indictment was returned in the Middle District of North Carolina Friday.
The primary issue is the use of campaign funds to cover up Edwards’ affair with his then campaign videographer. That money came from major supporters like the late trial lawyer Fred Baron, whose estate still provides the financial foundation for the Texas Democratic Party and its “shadow party,” led by Matt Angle.
More: Once he stopped giggling, Ace conjured up a reminder of just what sort of man John Edwards is.
You may remember John Kerry’s own memory of Edwards, as recounted, I believe, in Bob Shrum’s book.
Apparently Edwards was lobbying VP, and told Kerry a story about his son’s death, and gave a teary account of it, and told him that he’d learned so much from it and was ready to be VP, or that kind of thing.
And he concluded: And I have never. Told. Anyone. That story before.
Kerry got a chill when he heard this, but not for the reason you’d think. He’d got the chill because he remembered Edwards telling him this same story, with the same dead son and the same “And I have never — told — anyone” conclusion, to convince him on some other virtue of Edwards’, years earlier. And he got a sense of the man he was thinking about putting on the ticket.
Put him on the ticket anyway, of course.
Update: And it just got real. An arrest warrant has been issued.
A warrant has been issued for his arrest, and he is expected to appear in federal court in Winston-Salem at 2:30 p.m. Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick Auld.
I remember a few years back, lefties were all a-twitter at the prospect of getting Karl Rove frog marched into jail. Never happened, of course, because in spite of their hate and projection, Rove hadn’t committed any actual crimes. But hey, they may get their frog march after all…
(Also read “Why I Think the Edwards Prosecution Is a Bad Idea.”)
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