Edwards asks for delay of trial
(CNN) - Lawyers for former Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards asked Wednesday to delay the start of his federal criminal trial, which is set to begin in October.
Edwards said he needs more time to prepare his defense and called the government’s case against him a “novel legal theory,” according to a filing Wednesday.
The Justice Department brought charges against Edwards in June on allegations of conspiracy, issuing false statements and violating campaign contribution laws. He subsequently pleaded not guilty.
In the filing Wednesday, lawyers pointed to the need for more time due to Edwards’ position as the sole caretaker of his two young children, ages 11 and 13. They also noted that Edwards’ oldest child will marry in October and has planned a two-week honeymoon.
Edwards’ wife, Elizabeth, passed away in December.
“The Defendant will simply not have the ability to care for his children and work with his attorneys if this case is tried at the October 2011 Criminal Term in light of the absence of his daughter,” the filing said.
The filing also cited the recent hiring of Edwards’ newest attorney, Abbe Lowell, and said Edwards needed more time to prepare with counsel.
Edwards warned that a failure in granting a delay in the trial would result in a “miscarriage of justice.”
A grand jury is investigating whether money given to support Edwards' mistress, Rielle Hunter, by benefactors of Edwards should have been considered campaign donations, a contention Edwards' team has disputed. They maintain the money was a gift.
If convicted on all counts, he could face up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1.5 million.
From CNN Politics
- Exclusive: Justice reviews stock trades by lawmakers after coronavirus briefings March 30, 2020 02:08 am
- Trump concedes US coronavirus death toll could be 100,000 or more March 30, 2020 05:56 am
- Trump extends federal social distancing guidelines until April 30 March 30, 2020 02:21 am
- Fauci says Trump agreed not to invoke a strict quarantine after intensive White House discussions March 29, 2020 09:08 pm
- Pelosi on Trump's coronavirus response: 'As the President fiddles, people are dying' March 29, 2020 03:06 pm
- Fact check: A breakdown of false and misleading statements at Trump's Rose Garden briefing March 30, 2020 01:35 am
Send this piece of filth to prison. And some people would have voted for this ambulance chaser as president of the US.
OK , why not ?
He needs to hire Strauss-Kahn's attorney ! Money walks !
I hate it when they go kicking and screaming...
He's gotta be kidding. Like he spends all his time with those kids. They likely see more of hired help than they do him.
John Edwards can just forget playing the "sympathy" card. So freaking what if his oldest daughter is getting married and someone has to care for the children. He's filthy rich. Hire back the nanny. As to his claim, no one has been prosecuted on this charges. That's because no one left as much evidence of wrong doing, no one LIED as much, etc. There is a mountain of evidence that Edwards used Bunny money to support his Fatal Attraction mistress. HE destroyed his family when he signed up for Rielle Hunter. She conned him at his own game.
After reading the amount of the fine, I kind of feel bad for him. That being said, your children is a 24/7 job. Will he wait until they turn 18 to be ready? I can't seem to get over how he misjudged so many people. I never liked him but many people did.
Another one who is not responsible for what he has done. Yeap, he is qualified for President. Never get my vote though, after what he did to Elizabeth.
This idiot with a stupid haircut really burns me...first he tries to pass himself off as a poor little mill worker's kid...not true...then he tries to pass himself off as a champion for the poor and disenfranchised...not true...then he tries to pass himself off as a loving husband and father...not true...come on the children have other family members to take care of them that they like a lot better than their flaky dad...don't waste anymore time...he needs to go to court and be held as an example...then move on to Bachman's illegal campaign!