#EdwardsTrial: Prosecutors drop remaining charges against John Edwards
GREENSBORO, N.C. Federal prosecutors dropped all charges Wednesday against John Edwards after his corruption trial ended last month in a deadlocked jury.
Jurors in North Carolina acquitted the former presidential candidate on one count of accepting illegal campaign contributions and deadlocked on five other felony counts. The judge declared a mistrial.
Prosecutors will not seek to retry Edwards on the five unresolved counts, according to a U.S. Justice Department statement.
Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer, who oversees the agency’s criminal division, said prosecutors knew the case, like all campaign finance cases, would be challenging. But he said it is “our duty to bring hard cases” when warranted.
“Last month, the government put forward its best case against Mr. Edwards, and I am proud of the skilled and professional way in which our prosecutors…. conducted this trial,” he said.
I wrote a couple of weeks ago that I would not be sad to see the DOJ drop its case against Edwards. Β Frankly, I’m sick of hearing about him and wish every time I do that he would just fade into the background. Β Not only that, but his family didn’t ask to be put through what he’s put them through, and he will serve a “guilty” sentence on the charge of being a heartless jerk off for the rest of his life, which is punishment enough for his transgressions in my book. Β That said, hopefully he’ll work on ways to redeem himself, which is something that will between him and Β his family, friends, and – ultimately, of course – God.
Moving right along …