John Edwards Will Face Criminal Charges

[Ape]

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/05/john_edwards_will_face_crimina.html

A source close to John Edwards says that the Department of Justice plans to pursue criminal charges against the former presidential candidate. The DOJ, which has been investigating Edwards for two years, alleges that Edwards violated campaign laws by using more than $1 million in political donations trying to cover up his affair with Rielle Hunter

While I don't care about the affair, that was between him and his wife, allegedly spending a million bucks of donations to cover it up is something his will pay dearly for.

It is amazing how fast and far some fall, Woods, Arnold, Edwards we all on top and soon they will all be just footnotes.

 

[werepossum]

He'll probably have some company, looks like Ensign (who I liked) may well be up for the same thing.

You'd think Nixon would have taught all politicians that the coverup is likely worse than the crime, especially when the crime isn't actually a crime but the coverup is. Then again, maybe I just don't know how many coverups work . . .

I predict a plea deal with no time served.

 

[Ape]

Politicians never learn from history. They are either ignoring it or re-writing it.

 

[Craig234]

It's a sad story. Edwards did bad things, betrayed some close to him and people who backed him for representing good causes.

They face a hard choice, when they make a sexual mistake that can be disastrous for them - but have a chance for it to not come out. If they cover it up.

Many, many of us have made poor choices in sexual matters at times; few of us have had the options they do about them.

Nixon was a different matter, there was no sexual behavior to cover up, it was more pure partisan corruption. And his 'crime' was a crime, that he almost got away with.

The freak accident of a recording system and its exposure were perhaps why he was.

 

[Zebo]

He had a lot of potential but turned out to be a dirt bag like the rest.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Isn't the point of campaigning, and thus campaign funds, to cover up what a dirtbag you are?

 

[Doppel]

When he was campaigning during the last election my first impression of him, a strong one, was that he was a greasy used car salesman. I'm not often right on first impressions and thus try to hold back more than I might, but in this I was spot f**king on. Through that smile I saw sleezeball.

Criminal charges, what a douche bag.

 

[Vette73]

Isn't the point of campaigning, and thus campaign funds, to cover up what a dirtbag you are?

Yea but he did not win so hes open game. Go after someone in power and they just cut your funding.

 

[ichy]

When he was campaigning during the last election my first impression of him, a strong one, was that he was a greasy used car salesman.

Not surprising, since he made his money as a loathsome ambulance chaser.

 

[LumbergTech]

Don't get me wrong.....screw Edwards..but part of the blame in my mind falls on the media for being so concerned with who is touching whos genitals

a vast majority of politicians seem to have mistresses and yet somehow its a story for the news over and over and over

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

Hmmm...that's odd...where's the (D) after his name? I believe the AP did the same thing.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

It's a sad story. Edwards did bad things, betrayed some close to him and people who backed him for representing good causes.

They face a hard choice, when they make a sexual mistake that can be disastrous for them - but have a chance for it to not come out. If they cover it up.

Many, many of us have made poor choices in sexual matters at times; few of us have had the options they do about them.

Nixon was a different matter, there was no sexual behavior to cover up, it was more pure partisan corruption. And his 'crime' was a crime, that he almost got away with.

The freak accident of a recording system and its exposure were perhaps why he was.

That's bullshit. Edwards purposefully took a million dollars with the knowledge it was illegal to cover his ass. It wasn't sad, it was a selfish act of fraud, not a poor choice.

 

[Zebo]

Not surprising, since he made his money as a loathsome ambulance chaser.

Everytime I look at my swimming pool and see that kreepy kwaler stuck on raised intake not doing shit I think of that asshole.

I tried to make some flat grates like old days (since they don't sell them anymore thanks to Edwards) but my wife won't let me install them.

 

[Genx87]

It's a sad story. Edwards did bad things, betrayed some close to him and people who backed him for representing good causes.

They face a hard choice, when they make a sexual mistake that can be disastrous for them - but have a chance for it to not come out. If they cover it up.

Many, many of us have made poor choices in sexual matters at times; few of us have had the options they do about them.

Nixon was a different matter, there was no sexual behavior to cover up, it was more pure partisan corruption. And his 'crime' was a crime, that he almost got away with.

The freak accident of a recording system and its exposure were perhaps why he was.

What does Nixon have to do with Edwards being a horrible father and husband for his dying wife? And then using campaign funds illegally? You are like LL. A pathetic fool.

 

[Zebo]

Hmmm...that's odd...where's the (D) after his name? I believe the AP did the same thing.

It's not a conspiracy, he holds no office.

 

[ProfJohn]

There are two Americas.

One where people admit that they had an affair.

And one where people steal millions of dollars to cover up their affair.

 

[Thump553]

It should be interesting. Assuming he does get indicted and assuming he does not beat it on the law (by the government failing to prove the money involved was technically a campaign contribution-which is not clear cut) he's going down hard.

Ensign's behavior is just about as bad-he had his elderly parents (the donors and also intensely private people) sign false affidavits thus exposing them to criminal prosecution, not to mention putting them through hell.

Good riddance to bad rubbish/con men, both of them.

 

[Ape]

Don't get me wrong.....screw Edwards..but part of the blame in my mind falls on the media for being so concerned with who is touching whos genitals

a vast majority of politicians seem to have mistresses and yet somehow its a story for the news over and over and over

The story here isn't that he was having an affair it's that he used a million dollars of campaign funds (money for getting elected not paying off a mistress) to cover up his transgressions.

Just like with Clinton, it wasn't the blow job but the perjury.

 

[HendrixFan]

Isn't the point of campaigning, and thus campaign funds, to cover up what a dirtbag you are?

This. I don't care either way, since most all politicians will raid whatever money they can. But this does seem like a legit use of campaign money at least in the present day.

 

[Jaskalas]

This is a victimless crime. People gave him money, he was running for office with that money and that would include protecting one's image. His life is already ruined, but that's not enough for some malicious narcissists who get their jollies off at making everything a crime worthy of jail.

I might go so far as to call it a crime against humanity to pursue Edwards further in revenge. Justice has already been done to him and if you can't see that then you must enjoy the welfare state cause people rotting in jail are leeches on society and our coin. It should be reserved for criminals who belong there, people who are a threat to society.

John Edwards is no threat to society. Leave him alone.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

This is a victimless crime. People gave him money, he was running for office with that money and that would include protecting one's image. His life is already ruined, but that's not enough for some malicious narcissists who get their jollies off at making everything a crime worthy of jail.

I might go so far as to call it a crime against humanity to pursue Edwards further in revenge. Justice has already been done to him and if you can't see that then you must enjoy the welfare state cause people rotting in jail are leeches on society and our coin. It should be reserved for criminals who belong there, people who are a threat to society.

John Edwards is no threat to society. Leave him alone.

 

[MayorOfAmerica]

I have a few questions for the P&N crowd:

-Assuming Edwards makes a plea bargain, is the possibility of losing his license to practice law a punishment fitting the crime?

-Is that type of thing typical in these situations?

-Does it really impact him at all?

-Is he still practicing law?

Those aren't rhetorical questions, I am hoping someone can answer them, as I honestly don't know.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

I have a few questions for the P&N crowd:

-Assuming Edwards makes a plea bargain, is the possibility of losing his license to practice law a punishment fitting the crime?

-Is that type of thing typical in these situations?

-Does it really impact him at all?

-Is he still practicing law?

Those aren't rhetorical questions, I am hoping someone can answer them, as I honestly don't know.

If he is guilty then taking the license to practice law is fitting. He certainly knows what's not permitted. Will it impact him? I believe that he's quite wealthy but any future income from law is gone. I don't know the rules regarding lobbying but he should be banned from any such activities and required to repay the money. Putting him in jail is just costing taxpayers money. Of course if he tries to game the system then put him away.

 

[ProfJohn]

Edwards is done for. He will probably spend the rest of his life living off the millions he already made.

He might do a little bit of prison time for this crime, but will most likely end up under house arrest for a year or two or time in one of the federal country club prisons.

Taking away his law license is like taking away Bill Clinton's, a meaningless gesture.

 

[Mursilis]

I don't care about the affair.

I do. If his wife can't trust him to keep his promises, I can't trust him to keep his promises. I don't get people who think otherwise. How can you trust a politican who cheated on his wife? If he can lie to the woman he allegedly loves, he can definitely lie to you, a complete stranger!! Why would I ever support a person I can't trust in the least?

Of course, if she gave him permission, that's different - then he's not lying.