Former US Senator John Edwards (D-NC) was found not guilty on one of six campaign fraud charges Thursday afternoon.
The jury could not reach a verdict on the other counts, leading the judge to declare a mistrial.
In a short statement outside the federal courthouse in Greensboro, N.C., Edwards said:
“I want to make sure that everyone hears from me and from my voice that while I do not believe that I did anything illegal, or ever thought I was doing anything illegal, I did an awful, awful lot that was wrong. And there is no one else responsible for my sins. None of the people who came to court and testified are responsible. Nobody working for the government is responsible. I am responsible. And if I want to find the person who should be held accountable for my sins, honestly I don’t have to go any further than the mirror – it’s me.”
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The Associated Press is reporting:
A mistrial has been declared in the campaign fraud trial against ex-presidential candidate John Edwards.
Jurors on Thursday acquitted John Edwards of one of six counts involving him taking money from wealthy heiress Rachel "Bunny" Mellon. They told the judge they are deadlocked on the other five charges against him.
She declared a mistrial.
The ninth day of deliberations Thursday took a confusing turn after the judge mistakenly believed the jurors had reached a verdict on all six counts. She sent them back to deliberate some more.
In about an hour they came back and said they couldn't reach a decision on the other charges. Edwards was accused of using money from wealthy donors to hide his pregnant mistress as he ran for president in 2008.
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