Political News

John Edwards' lawyers ask judge to throw out case

Lawyers for John Edwards have asked a federal judge to throw out criminal charges against the former presidential candidate.

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John Edwards mugshot
RALEIGH, N.C. — Lawyers for John Edwards have asked a federal judge to throw out criminal charges against the former presidential candidate.

Edwards' defense team filed five motions Tuesday evening saying that federal prosecutors had violated his constitutional rights. Edwards' lawyers say in the filings that the federal indictment against him was unconstitutionally vague. They argue that even if all the facts alleged by prosecutors were true, no crime occurred.

Edwards was charged in June with felony counts related to more than $1 million in undisclosed payments from political supporters used to help hide his pregnant mistress Rielle Hunter during his 2008 run. He has pleaded not guilty. 

Edwards' lawyers say he conspired with an aide to hide his mistress not to preserve his political candidacy, but to keep his affair secret from his wife and children.

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