Campaign Finance - Edwards Aide Andrew Young Questioned By Former Senator's Defense Team

By Colleen Jenkins

GREENSBORO, North Carolina Former U.S. Senator John Edwards' security encouraged with Thursday that a good aide may have exaggerated a ladies threats to publicize the girl party with Edwards, telling your lady had a number of prospects to help orient the connection for you to tabloid reporters although didn't.

Ex-aide Andrew Young is the federal government's major witness inside its advertising campaign money case against Edwards, a two-time presidential pick as well as Democrats' vice presidential nominee with 2004.

Young provides testified that he / she recognized in excess of $900,000 through not one but two wealthy donors during Edwards' request plus expended them to be able to prevent that candidate's expecting mistress from the arrest throughout his failed 2008 bid for your Democratic presidential nomination.

At the time, Edwards has been a engaged to be married father of three. Young, also hitched using children, explained this individual agreed to falsely maintain paternity involving mistress Rielle Hunter's newborn to guard his or her boss' impression as a devoted spouse and children gentleman because the 2008 presidential nominating year acquired underway. Young explained he / she spent weeks around the run with his family members as well as Hunter to maintain the woman off from the actual media.

Edwards, 58, who put on your plate one term like a senator from North Carolina, looks achievable living hell time in the event that convicted associated with conspiring in order to solicit the money from heiress Rachel "Bunny" Mellon and advertising campaign financial chairman Fred Baron, getting in excess of the $2,300 helped from a single donor and not passing to help report the payments as contributions.

The safety affirms the obligations weren't plan contributions supposed to have an impact on your election, but alternatively were being treats from friends trying to help Edwards obscure this extramarital relationship from his cancer-stricken wife, Elizabeth, which would certainly be a lawful technique money.

Defense legal professional Abbe Lowell on Thursday noted various occasions as soon as Hunter could have uncovered the woman's affair along with Edwards to be able to inquiring tabloid reporters and didn't.

RELAYING DETAILS OF CASE

Lowell also questioned Young's levels connected with when different events transpired and also no matter if the actual aide had in truth relayed details that will jurors. The attorney pointed out discrepancies with Young's terms over time related to any time your dog learned Hunter ended up being expecting along with what kind of money Mellon agreed to devote that will help Edwards.

Lowell proved transcripts connected with voicemail communications out of Edwards to Young out of December 2007 and January 2008, the timeframe prior to the key Iowa caucuses.

"He would not talk about the fact that the actual Iowa caucuses usually are approaching in a week," Lowell said. "The headache he expresses is actually related to Elizabeth, is not it?"

Mellon ultimately written seven determines totaling $725,000. Edwards under no circumstances personally received any belonging to the money, which often Mellon provided for the woman's interior decorator, that then forwarded your inspections to be able to Young's wife to be able to endorse making use of her maiden name.

Lowell brought to you phone information of which revealed message or calls among Young's and also Mellon's numbers frequently were being made inside days before the goes upon her checks.

"These bank checks just failed to flow, these were a result of a person's asking Mrs. Mellon to get them upon those occasions, isn't really this right?" Lowell asked.

"No, sir," claimed Young, who seem to written a tell-all ebook concerning Edwards in addition to efforts to stay that romance hidden.

Young mentioned they spoke often by using Mellon, who shared with your pet to contact your ex whenever there is a fact that funds that will Edwards. Young explained your dog in no way explained to Mellon that the capital ended up used to pay for Hunter's medical care in addition to living expenses.

The defense also pronounces Young used some of the income to help you pay for just a $1.5 million property throughout North Carolina regarding his family.

(Reporting By Colleen Jenkins; Editing through Cynthia Johnston as well as Philip Barbara)

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